The 'Girls' creator defends herself after the animal shelter where she got her dog Lamby denied her claim that the dog was abused when he was a puppy.
- Jul 8, 2017
AceShowbiz - Lena Dunham responded to the comments made by Brooklyn's BARC no-kill animal shelter, the animal shelter where she got her rescue dog Lamby four years ago. The actress was recently forced to give away her pet due to the dog's behavioral issues allegedly stemming from the abuse he suffered as a puppy before she adopted him, but BARC rep Robert Vazquez disputed her claim.
Vasquez insisted the dog was never been abused. "When she adopted the dog from us, it wasn't crazy," he told Yahoo! Celebrity. "I have pictures of the dog loving on Lena and her mom, which is weird if the dog was abused. It wouldn't be cuddling with her or be in the bed with her 'boyfriend' in the pages of Vogue."
"If Lamby had a bad past or was abused, do you think BARC would have adopted him to Lena knowing she's a new star and put her - or the dog - in that situation? We would have told her if the dog had issues. We are a no-kill shelter," he added. "We don't lie about the dogs' histories because that gets them returned - and mentally, it's not good for the dogs."
Vasquez accused Dunham of lying about the reason why she had to find a new owner for the dog. "It's just hard to believe the dog was nasty when she took Lamby to every green room with her when Girls was still a thing four years ago," he said while subtly dissing the actress over her career following the end of her HBO show.
In response, Dunham wrote on Instagram. She posted, "It's come to my attention that the staff at the shelter where I adopted Lamby have a very different account of his early life and behavioral issues than I do. While I'm sorry to have disappointed them, I can't apologize. Lamby was and is one of the great loves of my life. When I met him I knew we'd have an amazing journey. But his aggression - which was unpredictable- and his particular issues, which remain myriad, weren't manageable, at least not by me."
"I did what I thought the best mother would do, which was to give him a life that provided for his specific needs. He'd been with me for nearly four years and I was his mom- I was in the best position to discern what those needs were. After countless hours of training, endless financial support and a lot of tears he was given access to a better life. I still support him financially and I'll always be there for him in every way but he's notably happier in his new surroundings."
"Why should this story be subject to scrutiny and anger? It is willfully misunderstanding the truth. 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. I would never say an unkind word about the staff of BARC, what they do is amazing and life saving for these animals- but we have different accounts of Lamby's behavior and they were not present in my home nor did they live with him for an extended period. They did not witness the consistent and responsible care I provided."
"I have weathered a lot of micro-scandals but this one hurts MOST, because of the vulnerability of letting people know Lamby and my story, and because I miss him so damn much. This is the painting that greets me every day when I walk into my home. This is the animal who taught me about loving and letting go," she concluded. "I know I'm a lot of fun to place your issues on, but I won't let anyone hang their hat on this peg. Not this time."
Last month, Lena Dunham revealed she sent Lamby to the Zen Dog, a canine rehabilitation center, instead of sending him back to the original animal shelter. According to the owner of the rehab center, Lamby was "a hot mess and a train wreck" when he arrived. He was reportedly heavily medicated, had a nasty disposition and was drinking his own urine. Now he has stabilized and found a new home with Dani Shay, a former Zen Dog trainer.
"Thank you Lena, for rescuing Lamby and being a dedicated parent/angel to him. I'm sure you know how much he loves and appreciates you. And yes, it's true, he does still drink from 'the golden tap' now and then, but that's our weird little boy! He's working on it," Lamby's new owner wrote on Instagram. "We practice everything he learned at #THEZENDOG, plus swimming and fetch, on a regular basis."
