How Rick Scott Returned His Rescue Dog

Did he do the right thing?

Liberal bloggers have seized on the tale of how Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL) returned his rescue dog, Reagan, after his 2010 campaign.

The story emerged after Tampa Bay Times reporters wondered why they'd never heard anything about Scott's rescue dog after he took office in January 2011. They asked various communications staff, who refused to answer.

Eventually Scott himself provided the answer:

"He was a rescue dog,'' Scott said, "and he couldn't be around anybody that was carrying anything, and so he wouldn't get better."

Scott said Reagan never bit anyone but "scared the living daylights'' out of people at the mansion. He said one kitchen employee threatened to quit and photographer Eric Tournay was frightened when the dog "barked like crazy'' every time he saw him with a camera.

Reagan was returned roughly a year ago to All Pets Grooming and Boarding. The Scotts now have a new rescue dog, Tallee.

This story probably won't go away, given its potential for launching emotive attacks on Rick Scott (e.g. "The cruel tale of Rick Scott's Rescue Puppy.")

Via the Tampa Bay Times.

Did Rick Scott do the right thing here?

[PNWest]

I really hate Rick Scott. If he had any competence at all I would have won the $100 Politix Presidential contest. But nooooooo....... He couldn't even suppress enough legal minority votes to give Romney the win in Florida. But enough about that. As someone who has worked with many, many shelter animals I know that sometimes it just doesn't work out. Hopefully the dog has found a more suitable home. As much as I would like to roast this bald-head bat-boy lookalike's ass on this one I have to say it looks like he did the right thing by the dog. As least he didn't strap it to the roof of his car for a 12 hour road trip. Give Rick Scott a pass on this one.

[stepped_in_it]

Jeez PN, all over a $100 bill. Just consider it your Republican tax....LOL. Other than that...you are right (and you might be right about the $100 thing also. Hate to lose money...)

[jessejaymes]

LOLOL too funny.

[MadAmerican]

I know you told me you voluntered with animals and was waiting on pins and needles on your post. lol Good heart on this one.

[PoliticalSpice]

I've seen this before. You go on about that bet almost as the repubs go on about obamacare. LOL.

[PNWest]

@PoliticalSpice Yes - but in my case the loss was actually real.

[Litdes]

On the one hand, I can see his frustration, but on the other hand, you live in a mansion with staff. Surely you can hire a dog trainer if you don't have the where with all to discipline the dog yourself.

Ultimately, I do think this says something about the man, particularly if their solution to a difficult problem is to walk away from it leaving the root unresolved. I, personally, would have difficulty voting for such a person to publicly represent me.

[thejimbo]

I wish the dog had returned the Governor instead....to a jail cell!

[Cheenoguy]

It would be different if he returned it, but he didn't. He exchanged it.

[Knightkore]

I think he did the right thing....

[stepped_in_it]

"The Scotts now have a new rescue dog, Tallee.". Not all dogs, rescue or not, work out for their new homes surroundings. I had an irish setter, big irish setter (over 100lbs and "stood" eye to eye w/ me). He loved kids (they, in mass, would tackle and lay on him all the time). But, he hated uniforms. I didn't get him until he was 6 months old and a brother had him....and he was in the service. I just had to watch him when it was mail delivery time...LOL. He lived to over 13 yrs old.....great dog!

[SavageMazx]

Always have had rescue dogs, some worked well for the family, others didn't.Those that didn't were always returned to the shelter for placement with a family that they would fit in
with better. Last rescue dog cost me $1100.00 in two weeks...and she had to go back....

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Did the debt ceiling debate somehow get resolved and I didn't hear about it? Surely we have real issues to report.

[tjwdraws]

You might ask Boehner as he has scheduled only eight days of legislative business in January and 11 days in February. But they ALL collect FULL pay.

[martydotcom]

Rick Scott has cut funding for police, TB, education, teachers, voting expenses, meals to the elderly, homeless shelters, soup kitchens etc, He's trying. What bills incurred by prior congress' do you not want to pay??

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

@martydotcom - You miss my point. This article on Rick Scott is not newsworthy.

[Mogal]

@Neo_NtheMatrix It is to those of us that live in FL.

[martydotcom]

@Neo_NtheMatrix Neo Meliving in Fl. He's such a constant. irritant I apologize for over reacting. Here he's a constant source of lies and obfuscation

[tjwdraws]

Doesn't he make enough money by making the state use his drug testing company to dehumanize people needing public assistance to afford a dog trainer?

[Knightkore]

I really can see a bit of both sides but I'd rather see the dog in a home where they would have the time to invest in helping the dog through there problem....being a dog lover....this was probably not an easy decision for Rick Scott....

[RobertJHarsh]

As someone who has taken in Rescue Dogs, sometimes they don't work out. We picked up a Blue Merle Sheltie from this crooked retired sheriff/"breeder" outside of Dayton about 5 years ago. He was kept in a shed for most of his life and was not properly housebroken at the age of 2. We worked hard with him but with small kids, it is not possible to always keep one in the long term because you never know a dog's history.

People shouldn't be trying to smack around Scott because his Rescue Dog didn't work out. BTW, we gave ours to a Sheltie rescue near Marietta because we were concerned for the kids safety. Not them getting bit but because the dog jumped on everything, including sleeping people! Why don't you research what it takes to bring in a Rescue Dog instead of talking smack because you want to knock Scott around because you don't like the man's politics.

[RobertJHarsh]

Oh by the PolitixMary...this submission is kinda lowlife. Not all Rescue Dogs work out. I am happy to debate on the man's politics but not his dog....or family for that matter. There are things you don't touch...this is one of them. Please reconsider making submissions like this in the future.

[Mogal]

I can hardly wait til this SOB is voted OUT!!!!!

[stepped_in_it]

SOB....is that your best dog expression? ;-)

[Mogal]

@stepped_in_it Lol, its the best I could post here without having the post deleted. ;D

[PoliticalSpice]

Well maybe some one will just stand their ground when he walks by...

[Sharpshooter]

@PolitixMary Cheap shot thread. Better he protect himself from this sort of attack by keeping a dog in the wrong environment until it bites someone and has to be put down?

This is one of those "Are you still beating your wife" stories.... you get your shot in regardless the answer.

[PayThatCEO]

I'll bet they could have afforded a dog trainer to come in and work with the dog to help it overcome it's bad behavior.

[DARSB]

Skeletor likes dogs? Who knew?

[NormalFlora]

This guy was rich enough and influential enough to have Cesar Milan himself fly out to evaluate the situation. But no, better to just exchange the "canine mansion decor" for a different style and color.

[kathyparsell]

I have had MANY rescue dogs, some have been a perfect fit with my family & other pets. Others have been nightmarish! Even months after giving them love, food and attention they have suddenly bitten people or killed other animals for no apparent reason. For people to suggest that Rick Scott should have kept a potentially dangerous dog is asinine and ignorant. He made the appropriate & responsible decision.

[Denizen_Kate]

Partisan politics aside, some dogs are too damaged to become pets. That's sad, but true. My own mother had to return a rescue dog because the poor little thing went raving mad every time she saw another dog, and my mom being a slight little 80-something woman, she wasn't confident she could keep the poor thing out of trouble. She even consulted dog experts, but sadly concluded that she couldn't keep the dog as a pet. It happens, and partisan politix have nothing to do with it. I don't like Rich Scott politically, I think he's an asshat in that regard, but why slam him for something that isn't his fault when there's plenty that is?

[puppybrownie]

I'm a dog lover, I have had a "rescue dog" for 5 years now and she is my "child"!
But, many years ago I got a dog who was incorrigible and I had to return it to the shelter. Sometimes it's just not a good fit, and there is a reason some of the dogs were surrendered in the first place. It's not up to a bunch of liberal tools to decide such a personal issue.

[harold_lloyd]

Scott will go down in the records as one of the worst of our Govs.
But not because of this.