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Lena Dunham Says Her Dog Was Abused. The Shelter He Came From Disagrees. Lena Dunham Says Her Dog Was Abused. The Shelter He Came From Disagrees.
(about 20 hours later)
Lena Dunham wanted to her fans to know what had happened to her dog Lamby. Lena Dunham wanted her fans to know what had happened to her dog Lamby.
Ms. Dunham, the writer, producer and actor best known for the HBO series “Girls,” adopted Lamby in January 2013. But the cream-colored mutt stopped making appearances in Ms. Dunham’s social media feeds, replaced, it seemed, by two fresh-faced poodles, Susan and Karen.Ms. Dunham, the writer, producer and actor best known for the HBO series “Girls,” adopted Lamby in January 2013. But the cream-colored mutt stopped making appearances in Ms. Dunham’s social media feeds, replaced, it seemed, by two fresh-faced poodles, Susan and Karen.
So on June 21, Ms. Dunham disclosed on Instagram that Lamby had “suffered terrible abuse as a pup” and that, because of the resulting behavioral problems, she handed him over to a facility in Los Angeles.So on June 21, Ms. Dunham disclosed on Instagram that Lamby had “suffered terrible abuse as a pup” and that, because of the resulting behavioral problems, she handed him over to a facility in Los Angeles.
It was, in hindsight, the perfect recipe for outrage on social media: Start with a cute dog made famous by his celebrity owner, throw in a claim of animal abuse and then add an animal shelter worker in Brooklyn with a bone to pick.It was, in hindsight, the perfect recipe for outrage on social media: Start with a cute dog made famous by his celebrity owner, throw in a claim of animal abuse and then add an animal shelter worker in Brooklyn with a bone to pick.
Robert Vazquez, who works at the BARC shelter, where Ms. Dunham got Lamby, took issue with Ms. Dunham’s account.Robert Vazquez, who works at the BARC shelter, where Ms. Dunham got Lamby, took issue with Ms. Dunham’s account.
“When she adopted the dog from us, it wasn’t crazy,” Mr. Vazquez said in an email to Yahoo Celebrity. “I have pictures of the dog loving on Lena and her mom, which is weird if the dog was abused.’”“When she adopted the dog from us, it wasn’t crazy,” Mr. Vazquez said in an email to Yahoo Celebrity. “I have pictures of the dog loving on Lena and her mom, which is weird if the dog was abused.’”
Mr. Vazquez could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday, but Vincent Spinola, BARC’s founder and director, said in an emailed statement that staff members at the shelter were saddened to hear that Lamby had been given away.Mr. Vazquez could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday, but Vincent Spinola, BARC’s founder and director, said in an emailed statement that staff members at the shelter were saddened to hear that Lamby had been given away.
“When the dog was here at BARC, where he lived with us for just under a month before he was adopted, he was mild mannered and very well behaved,” the statement said. “There were no signs of bad temperament or any kind of aggression.”“When the dog was here at BARC, where he lived with us for just under a month before he was adopted, he was mild mannered and very well behaved,” the statement said. “There were no signs of bad temperament or any kind of aggression.”
Ms. Dunham, no stranger to online criticism, is now being accused of lying about the dog’s past and of creating an environment that may have caused Lamby to lash out.Ms. Dunham, no stranger to online criticism, is now being accused of lying about the dog’s past and of creating an environment that may have caused Lamby to lash out.
Ms. Dunham responded to the criticism on Instagram on Thursday night, praising BARC’s work and acknowledging that they had “a very different account” of Lamby’s early life.Ms. Dunham responded to the criticism on Instagram on Thursday night, praising BARC’s work and acknowledging that they had “a very different account” of Lamby’s early life.
“Why should this story be subject to scrutiny and anger? It is willfully misunderstanding the truth,” she said. “I hope those judging can imagine the incredible pain of letting go of your favorite creature on EARTH because you know you can’t help them be healthy and happy.”“Why should this story be subject to scrutiny and anger? It is willfully misunderstanding the truth,” she said. “I hope those judging can imagine the incredible pain of letting go of your favorite creature on EARTH because you know you can’t help them be healthy and happy.”
For those who have expressed concerns, an update: The dog appears to be doing fine. Matt Beisner, the founder and an owner of the Zen Dog, the training facility that took Lamby in, said he was living a peaceful life with a new owner in Southern California.For those who have expressed concerns, an update: The dog appears to be doing fine. Matt Beisner, the founder and an owner of the Zen Dog, the training facility that took Lamby in, said he was living a peaceful life with a new owner in Southern California.
Ms. Dunham wrote about Lamby in a 2013 article for The New Yorker, describing how, after years of wanting a pet, she adopted him, paying $150.Ms. Dunham wrote about Lamby in a 2013 article for The New Yorker, describing how, after years of wanting a pet, she adopted him, paying $150.
“The first few nights I have him, it’s just us two, and he’s perfect,” she wrote. “Quiet, limp as a sack of laundry, he kisses me softly whenever he has the chance.”“The first few nights I have him, it’s just us two, and he’s perfect,” she wrote. “Quiet, limp as a sack of laundry, he kisses me softly whenever he has the chance.”
But soon, she wrote, Lamby’s behavior became erratic; Ms. Dunham wrote that he had trouble being alone, barked at night and bit her boyfriend.But soon, she wrote, Lamby’s behavior became erratic; Ms. Dunham wrote that he had trouble being alone, barked at night and bit her boyfriend.
Behavioral issues can be exacerbated if a dog and its owner are not a good match, said Kenny Lamberti, the acting vice president of the Companion Animals department of the Humane Society of the United States.Behavioral issues can be exacerbated if a dog and its owner are not a good match, said Kenny Lamberti, the acting vice president of the Companion Animals department of the Humane Society of the United States.
“If you do end up in a situation where a dog is not a good match for you, which in this scenario I think was clear, we don’t encourage immediately throwing in the towel,” he said. “We recommend that you find a qualified training expert.”“If you do end up in a situation where a dog is not a good match for you, which in this scenario I think was clear, we don’t encourage immediately throwing in the towel,” he said. “We recommend that you find a qualified training expert.”
According to Mr. Beisner, that is what Ms. Dunham did. He said he worked with Lamby multiple times during her visits to Los Angeles, before she ultimately handed him over.According to Mr. Beisner, that is what Ms. Dunham did. He said he worked with Lamby multiple times during her visits to Los Angeles, before she ultimately handed him over.
“He was afraid to be touched; touching was usually going to get somebody bit,” Mr. Beisner said. “He would drink his own urine, which is a common behavior that comes from dogs that have been raised in breeding farms.”“He was afraid to be touched; touching was usually going to get somebody bit,” Mr. Beisner said. “He would drink his own urine, which is a common behavior that comes from dogs that have been raised in breeding farms.”
Mr. Beisner could not say for sure whether Lamby had been abused as a puppy, but he said dogs’ behavioral problems often stem from their experiences in the first 10 weeks of their lives.Mr. Beisner could not say for sure whether Lamby had been abused as a puppy, but he said dogs’ behavioral problems often stem from their experiences in the first 10 weeks of their lives.
“So from Lamby’s standpoint, he was acting out in part because of his own back story and wherever he came from before being rescued,” Mr. Beisner said.“So from Lamby’s standpoint, he was acting out in part because of his own back story and wherever he came from before being rescued,” Mr. Beisner said.
Ms. Dunham said on Instagram that in the nearly four years that she owned Lamby, “I did what I thought the best mother would do, which was to give him a life that provided for his specific needs.”Ms. Dunham said on Instagram that in the nearly four years that she owned Lamby, “I did what I thought the best mother would do, which was to give him a life that provided for his specific needs.”
Mr. Lamberti, of the Humane Society, said it sounded like Ms. Dunham did the right thing. He noted that finding a better home can be a good last option. He added that other would-be dog owners could prevent similar situations by putting careful thought into a dog’s needs, size and energy levels before taking it home.Mr. Lamberti, of the Humane Society, said it sounded like Ms. Dunham did the right thing. He noted that finding a better home can be a good last option. He added that other would-be dog owners could prevent similar situations by putting careful thought into a dog’s needs, size and energy levels before taking it home.
“I think there’s a kind of mythology built around sharing a life with a dog. It’s not actually a Disney movie,” he said. “What we try to do, first and foremost, is to get people as informed as possible before they go to get a dog.”“I think there’s a kind of mythology built around sharing a life with a dog. It’s not actually a Disney movie,” he said. “What we try to do, first and foremost, is to get people as informed as possible before they go to get a dog.”
According to Humane Society data, from six to eight million cats and dogs enter shelters every year, and about three million are euthanized in shelters. But Lamby got lucky. He was adopted by a former employee of the Zen Dog, and Mr. Beisner said everything sounds like it’s going well.According to Humane Society data, from six to eight million cats and dogs enter shelters every year, and about three million are euthanized in shelters. But Lamby got lucky. He was adopted by a former employee of the Zen Dog, and Mr. Beisner said everything sounds like it’s going well.
“From what I see in the pictures, he’s got a great life,” he said.“From what I see in the pictures, he’s got a great life,” he said.