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An Update: Oscar the Gay Dog
Mixed-Breed Pooch Surrendered to Stanly Animal Shelter for ‘Being Gay’ Finds His Happily Ever After by David Aaron Moore Qnotes Staff Writer
asked why we thought the story had exploded,” Nichols continues. “It seemed pretty obvious to us. After the last four or five years of craziness in our country, people are craving stories with real heroes he story originally broke on March and happy endings.” 17. Local CW affiliate WCCB’s Morgan Now, just over two months later, the Fogarty reported that Stanley County hype has died down. Animal Protective Services (SCAPS) had “It’s funny – I remember at one point posted on their Facebook page a dog had John looked at me and said, ‘When is all of been dropped off at their shelter because this going to end?’ I thought about it for a his previous owners had complained he moment and said, ‘When the next big thing was gay. comes along the media can run with.’” According to the report, the previous And that did happen. In front of milowners said they had spotted him mountlions of people around the globe on April ing another male dog, which, in their 8, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on the minds, confirmed he was gay. Academy Awards for a perceived slight While same-sex activity and attraction against his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith. occurs between animals of all species Just as quickly as the attention had across the board, one dog mounting anrisen, it almost immediately disappeared, other is a common gesture of dominance with television programs like “The Ellen and happens frequently. DeGeneres Show,” offering and then Perhaps it was a slow news day or rescinding invitations to Oscar and his there just wasn’t going enough going on Happy at Home: Oscar relaxing on his favorite perch. (Photo Credit: Nichols/Winn) two dads. in the world, but the dog’s story ex“It just shows you what their motivaploded across media here in the United tion really is,” Nichols offers. States and around the world in places of bigotry and ignorance throughout our Cruelty to Animals in Charlotte (SPCA). But the two men haven’t let their eflike England, Japan, Ireland, Malta, India, lives,” Nichols explains. “And there were The organization footed the bill for forts come to a standstill just because the Australia and others. times when we couldn’t do anything about Oscar’s care, which includes treatment media packed up and went home. They’ve A local gay couple who met in it. When we saw this we both looked at for heartworms. Now Oscar’s health has gone a step further to set up a website Savannah, Ga., and later moved to each other and said, “We should do someimproved substantially and he’s adapting so that Oscar’s fans and friends can stay Charlotte in 2005 before making their thing about this.” to life with his two new dads and other home in Indian Trail, eventually came to updated on his latest developments. Neglecting the dog because of its pets, including a Terrier-Chihuahua mix the dog’s rescue. They posted the following statement: perceived sexual orientation wasn’t the named Harry. Steve Nichols and John Winn saw “Let’s be quick to point out that we are only thing his former owners did wrong. “Harry doesn’t believe he’s an animal. stories about the dog – just like the rest of not the heroes in this story. The shelter According to Nichols, Oscar wasn’t in the He thinks he’s a human,” Nichols laughs. us – but made the quick decision to jump employees, the volunteers and donors at best of condition, either. In addition to “So I think he just sort of tolerates Oscar. in and adopt the dog. being dirty, ungroomed and desperately in He sees him as another pet.” the local SPCA, and the veterinarian who While volunteers at SCAPS had reneed of nail maintenance, it appeared he The attenis working to named the dog Fezco (after a television sehad never been to a veterinarian. tion generated restore Oscar to ries character), Nichols and Winn decided “The volunteers at Stanley County by Oscar’s initial health and hapto name the dog Oscar, after legendary did a great job taking care of him,” says abandonment piness – these gay poet, playwright and world traveler Nichols. “We wanted to take him to a because of his people who deal Oscar Wilde. veterinarian to have him checked out just perceived sexu“We just thought it would make sense with unwanted to make sure he was in good health and ality, and the for a ‘gay dog’ to be adopted by a gay famand abused everything was okay.” resulting media ily,” Nichols chuckles. animals every As it turns out, everything was not. frenzy that folThe two men said their motivation to day – they are Oscar was examined by Dr William lowed, continadopt the dog so quickly came from disthe heroes.” Pressley of Pressley Animal Hospital, a ued even after crimination they had experienced in their local veterinarian who routinely partners the two men Their efforts, own lives. “We’ve been subject to that kind with the Society for the Prevention of had adopted they say, are all the dog. about educating “It was the public on the pretty overimportance of whelming,” shelter adoption Nichols recalls. and the work “We were getdone by the ting calls from Charlotte SPCA, around the in the hopes that world after goanimal lovers will ing viral on the internet and sodonate time or cial media. NBC money to animal News, TMZ, The shelters and their Today Show, local SPCA. Good Morning Best buddies – sort of, anyway – Harry (back) As for Oscar, America, USA oversees while Oscar snoozes.. (Photo Credit: his story continToday, and a Nichols/Winn) ues to just get plethora of better. other media “He’s dooutlets barraged [the Charlotte] SPCA with ing well and his personality is starting to requests to contact us. Our story was on emerge,” Nichols explains. “He’s becoming countless talk shows that we never even more playful and he’s getting along well saw, including Jimmy Kimmel. We discovwith Harry – they stay together constantly.” ered copies of the story on major websites For more details on Oscar and his like Huffington Post, Newsweek [and] the John Winn and Steve Nichols pose with their new canine friend Oscar. new family, visit his website at www. NY Times.” (Photo Credit: Nichols/Winn) oscarthegaydog.com : : “In all the interviews we did, we were
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Qnotes
May 27 - June 2, 2022
