Jon Gosselin, one tenth of the TLC reality hit Jon & Kate Plus 8, has responded to allegations that his dogs, Shoka and Nala, are being mistreated, People magazine reports. The Humane Society of Berks Couty, Pennsylvania, where the Gosselins live, received several complaints about the family after the embattled dad recently told the magazine, “those kids beat them up, climb on them, pull their tails, bite at them, drag them around and everything you can imagine not to do to an animal, they’ve done.” In a statement released Friday Gosselin asserted, “I'd like to set the record straight. We understand the responsibilities of being good dog owners. Whenever my kids are with Shoka and Nala, everyone is carefully supervised to ensure that no one – dog or child – is injured. Shoka and Nala are loyal companions who we consider members of our family. We would never do anything to hurt them, and treat them with the respect and love that they deserve.” The executive director of the Berks County Human Society, Karel I. Minor, maintains that the organization does not believe the animals are in any danger.
Jun 8
2009
08:40 PM ET
Jon Gosselin responds to naysayers: We don't abuse our dogs
- Comments 16
- Add comment
Latest News
- Doc Watson, folk music legend, dies at 89
- 'Mad Men': Imagining Peggy's future
- Tom Cruise's Jack Reacher film renamed
- 'Thor 2': Guesses on 'major new villain'?
- Donald Trump responds to 'ignoramus' jab
- 'Mermaids: The Body Found': A fish story?
- NBC OKs a new singing competition show
- Jane Fonda finds 'Peace, Love...': Watch
Anyone who has or had kids with animals know that kids are curious about the animal. They like to touch and feel etc., but kids have to learn their boundries with animals. It is just a testament to the world we live in that something like this is said and there has to be a spanish inquistion about abusing the dogs! Anyone with dogs and kids know how kids act around dogs! They are just being kids! This is way over out of hand!
Come on the kids are abusing their dogs. Dogs have ways of dealing with kids that get too agressive. The dogs are likely 10 iq points higher than any of the humans in the house I wouldn’t worry about them.
Jon should either think before he speaks (or acts, for that matter) or learn to shut the hell up already.
That’s a bit of a stretch here. People are over-reacting and I knew exactly what Jon was talking about when he referenced his young kids being super excited and playful. They give dogs huge hugs, sometimes play wrestle and tug of war, that kind of thing. Its usually what makes family pets adore and protect their ‘siblings’ and exactly how sibling pets are with one another.
This is getting ridiculous- leave these poor people alone. First they’re abusing their children, now dogs?! Come on people!!!
In light of the nonstop scrutiny currenty focused on this family, people have taken Jon’s words a tad too seriously. If those dogs felt harassed, they’d have made it really clear by now.
Well, if the dogs aren’t in any danger then perhaps “beating them up” was a poor choice of words. Seriously these people need to shut the f up and I hope those dogs really are safe.
what are the dogs names
We’re talking about the Gosselin’s dogs? Really? This is what it has come to? As a Reading PA resident, I plead with you Jon Gosselin…. go away!
I have a german shepherd. He requires a lot of attention and love and he gives it all back. Why didn’t this family choose some type of lap dogs for these kids? Believe me, those shepherds are much more intelligent than their ingrate “parents”.
OK already, enough about this whole family. I am sick of reading about it hearing it on the news. Now the dogs. Kids are kids, however they need to be careful around the dogs. Dogs react to situations based on self protection.I would NOT want to read a story about something happening to one of the children. Parental Supervision is needed at all times!!
From the first time i watched this show i was smart enough to see that Kate was always treating Jon worse than she does the kids. So what did she expect? You have to treat your hysband/wife/children with the respect they deserve. If i was him i might have done the same thing he is accused of. Granted i do not agree with extra marital affairs but an i the only one who saw it coming? IF she REALLY LOVES HIM like she said she did then maybe it is time for her to open her eyes and watch some of the old shows and she would seen what was coming. Or maybe she never did really love him and all she cared about was the money from the show. They really need to see someone for help if they even want to stay together. After all the children love them both and deserve better. They both need to show them how grownups are supposed to behave if they want their children to follow their example. As for the dogs they too deserve better. And she wanted a fuzzy lap dog and he wanted big dogs.
The irresponsible, sickening media has really outdone themselves this time! Come on really? The kids are beating German Shepherds, dogs that out weight them. I have a 20lb dog that my 4 yr old does anything possible to torture that dog and the dog loves it and let my son know in a gentle manner when he has had enough. Leave the Gosselins alone already they have enough stress without this kind of crap. Anyone that believes these dog are abused need to check them their brain cells, see if they have any. Stupid Stupid people get a life!!!
we also have a large dog and she would never hurt my children but she would let them know if they were being to rough. kids will be kids lets leave this family alone already.I think they have enough drama in thier lives we dont need to add to it. im curious do they still have god in thier lives? praying always helps.
I had 3 sisters, and (wayback & sad to say) we were awfully rough on the family pets. Especially when the parents weren’t around. We’d look up vet-tricks to induce vomiting, shoot goats, horses & chickens with bb-guns, etc. My uncle when he was a kid, would use the family chickens as target practice for his spear because he was “Tarzan”. When Mom went to butcher them (she was a kid too), they’d be full of holes. Our other farmkid friends had equally sad & gruesome stories. People REALLY, REALLY need to supervise their kids, and somehow teach empathy. I regret everything we did. Kid brains are not adult brains.
Yes, some of the dogs did bite us after much torment, but never the horse, cats, goats, chickens after getting tormented.
I’ve watched the show, and those kids have a pack-mentality, out of control, & aggressive. Kate may claim to be Type-A and a control freak, but that’s towards adults. Those kids are running buckwild with zero parental consistence, even during Kate’s screeching at them. Jon was constantly very unhappy, refused to participate in giving the kids structure and consistent discipline. I would imagine the modeling of abuse, zero boundaries and consistency would make the kids very insecure, aggressive, attempting to establish their own dominance in this chaos-world. Both parents lack the skills to be football coach parents and manage the kid-army, and hiring weakling simpering nannies doesn’t help.