• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Fiona Apple Cancels Tour To Be With Her Sick Dog

I've had pets die, but I didn't have the luxury to put my life on hold to, for example, stay home from school to care for my cat that was dying for cancer. Instead I came home from school one day to find my beloved friend in a coma. All I could do then was take the remains to be put down and disposed of.

I'm a Fiona Apple fan too, but I'm also a veteran of show business, where the motto is "the show must go on." I would have understood back when she was a teenager, but she's a grown-up now and needs to start doing grown-up things. It's good for her, good for the people whose incomes depend on her honoring contracts, and those with tickets to her shows. But mostly good for her. We don't need to read more creepy stories about how Michael Jackson died, and could use more about how Conan O'Brien took care of his support people after his NBC show was dropped.
 
Speed Daemon said:
I've had pets die, but I didn't have the luxury to put my life on hold to, for example, stay home from school to care for my cat that was dying for cancer. Instead I came home from school one day to find my beloved friend in a coma. All I could do then was take the remains to be put down and disposed of.

I'm a Fiona Apple too, but I'm also a veteran of show business, where the motto is "the show must go on." I would have understood back when she was a teenager, but she's a grown-up now and needs to start doing grown-up things. It's good for her, good for the people whose incomes depend on her honoring contracts, and those with tickets to her shows. But mostly good for her. We don't need to read more creepy stories about how Michael Jackson died, and could use more about how Conan O'Brien took care of his support people after his NBC show was dropped.
Click to expand...
I think real life is more important than show business. She can always reschedule a tour, but once her friend is gone, she's gone. I admire the fact that she doesn't really care about her career. She doesn't make an album every year to please a record company, and she is doing what she feels is right for her now. True, most of us wouldn't have the luxury to stay home from work, but she is still leaving a lot of money on the table by doing this, and that shows what is important to her.
 
I'm not making any judgments, because I know how hard it is to let go of a beloved companion (I've done it three times and am facing it again with my 14-year-old Shetland Sheepdog), but to see the animal suffer like that is not a humane and compassionate act.

It's time to say goodbye and give the dog peace.
 
lunatic59 said:
I'm not making any judgments, because I know how hard it is to let go of a beloved companion (I've done it three times and am facing it again with my 14-year-old Shetland Sheepdog), but to see the animal suffer like that is not a humane and compassionate act.

It's time to say goodbye and give the dog peace.
Click to expand...
I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. I don't know if her dog is really suffering. I also know from experience how hard it is to know when the right time to let go is. Hopefully she will know when the time is right. Best wishes to you.
 
lunatic59 said:
I'm not making any judgments, because I know how hard it is to let go of a beloved companion (I've done it three times and am facing it again with my 14-year-old Shetland Sheepdog), but to see the animal suffer like that is not a humane and compassionate act.

It's time to say goodbye and give the dog peace.
Click to expand...

Gmash said:
I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. I don't know if her dog is really suffering. I also know from experience how hard it is to know when the right time to let go is. Hopefully she will know when the time is right. Best wishes to you.
Click to expand...

True. Its a judgement call, and hopfully the Vet helps dictate the direction to go. My Dog Molly, was born with a horrible disease, in which her imune system would attack her skin, as if it was a virus. This would cause her skin to litterally fall off. hair and all. Drs. siad she would be dead before she reached the age of 2 years. We found another Dr. who said he couldnt cure the issue, but could possibly treat it. He had a few other vets visit, and examine Molly throughout the years. She had a few surgeries, and the last one was a fast growing tumor on her hip. Her whole life she was happy, energetic, and lived like most other dogs, 'cept she didnt like to walk in dirt or grass. She had monthly treatments, and the Dr. would advise us that things were going well, and aside from her issue, she was in good health. She couldnt go outside for long periods due to her skin, and being exposed to the sun would exacerbate the issue.
This is a picture of her after her last visit to the Dr., after her last surgery.
Molly008.jpg


The company I worked for shut down, due to poor economy, and I was out of work. Molly was just over 10 years old at this time. I was able to take a year off work, and spend it with her, going on drives, etc. Things she loved to do. She passed away just before Christmas right after her 12th birthday. I was so fortunate to be able to spend that with her.
 
damewolf13 said:
I know she probably has many angry fans, but I totally get it!
Click to expand...
I would think most people would be understanding after reading that letter. She has always been a bit "eccentric" anyway. You know her publicists and handlers had to have tried talking her out of canceling. I am glad she stuck to her guns and did what she thinks is right.
 
Dogs and any other pets are family too, and if they are sick, you should be by their side. Especially because htey can not communicate verbally if they are in pain or need support, their owners who understand them best should be with them.
 
saptech said:
I guess the dog is more important then her fans...hmmm!
Click to expand...
I would hope so, but I think music should be about the art. Pleasing fans should be a by-product, not the goal. A real musician creates music because they have to, not for the fame and fortune. I realize some would disagree.
 
Clementine_3 said:
Not a huge fan of her music but gotta respect the hell outta her for her dedication to Janet. Pets are people too and far too often that is forgotten...
Click to expand...

Then does that make people, pets?
I'm sorry, but that is ridiculous. They are animals. There is no way on this planet am I gonna miss a days work to tend to a sick pet. Because if I do that, I then put them on the same level as one of my children. And that's not gonna happen in this dimension or the next.
 
Kamau said:
Then does that make people, pets?
I'm sorry, but that is ridiculous. They are animals. There is no way on this planet am I gonna miss a days work to tend to a sick pet. Because if I do that, I then put them on the same level as one of my children. And that's not gonna happen in this dimension or the next.
Click to expand...
Good Lord, it's just a saying!
My son is certainly THE most important thing to me and I would do anything for him, no matter what.
My pets are animals, but they too are important to me. I care for them the best way I know how. I take them to the vet when they are sick. I take the dog to the vet for preventive/yearly visits. I feed the dog high quality food. My snakes and geckos have way more than 'basic' set-ups. My tortoise's pen takes up 1/2 a room practically. I probably take better care of the feeder bugs than some take of their actual pets. They mean a lot to me and are members of my family. And I have taken time off from work to take care of sick/dying (and grieve for) pets, and I'll do it again.
Yes, they are animals. No, it's not full on ridiculous. Yes, they are people too...as the saying goes.
 
The problem is, it's not just a saying. Some people treat pets as people. In the next city over from me in the park, there are drinking fountains for dogs next to the ones for people. They also have a dog wash like a car wash, a couple restaurants for dogs, a doggy bakery, 3 or 4 clothing shops for dogs........get what I'm saying. I see people cradling pets like they were a newborn, goo gooing & gaa gaaing them.
I'm not saying they should be treated badly or ignored. By all means, once you have one, you have taken on a responsibility and should take it seriously. They must be cared for, certainly. But I am not about to miss work to take care of my sick dog.
 
I can understand the drinking fountains. If i go jogging in the park with my dog its better if i dont have to carry around a water bottle and bowl. As for pet shops, we have petcos, so why not? Cradling dogs like babies........ Ehhhh, guilty, but i wont admit....if im sick, the ol ball n chain tends to me. If the dog gets sick... Just let it deal with it? No, ill do the same just like when i feel like crud i want someone to take care of me. Yes, ill even give my dogs chicken soup. My dogs are next in line apart from direct family.



One time i had a lizard who wasnt eating for a few days. Turned out she was trapped under one of her rocks. I drove an hour to out her to sleep at an emergency vet. I wanst gonna leave her to die there.
 
Some people may go overboard with the pet pampering, but they're not hurting anybody, and if it makes them happy, so be it. But if you wouldn't take a day off of work to care for a sick pet, you probably shouldn't have one.
 
Ok, now I'm not familiar with this woman or her music. But what I can gather, she has made a name for herself.
Now, she has decided to disappoint those fans, who made her who she is, who had shelled out good money to hear her perform, just because her dog is sick/dying.
I'm sorry, but I don't get it. I'm sure those tickets cost a pretty penny, and some of those fans had made sacrifices to pay for them. The people who made her who she is are now left holding the bag. Even if she rescheduled those missed concerts, I will wager that some of them made concrete changes in their lives to be there, and won't be able to make it. Even if the money is then refunded, you are left with disappointed fans because they wanted to see/hear a concert.
Also, in the article she says

I am the woman who stays
home and bakes Tilapia for my dearest, oldest
friend,” writes Apple in the four-page post.

Sounds to me like she is the one who either should have a pet with her chosen lifestyle, or she has chosen the wrong lifestyle all together. I don't know too many homebodys like she's making herself out to be, that are celebrities.
No, I am not one to own a pet. I cannot see myself taking a day off from work, losing a days pay, for a dog. That is money that my family loses out on, regardless off how much it is. And even if I were single, it's just a dog.
 
Kamau said:
Ok, now I'm not familiar with this woman or her music. But what I can gather, she has made a name for herself.
Now, she has decided to disappoint those fans, who made her who she is, who had shelled out good money to hear her perform, just because her dog is sick/dying.
I'm sorry, but I don't get it. I'm sure those tickets cost a pretty penny, and some of those fans had made sacrifices to pay for them. The people who made her who she is are now left holding the bag. Even if she rescheduled those missed concerts, I will wager that some of them made concrete changes in their lives to be there, and won't be able to make it. Even if the money is then refunded, you are left with disappointed fans because they wanted to see/hear a concert.
Also, in the article she says

I am the woman who stays
home and bakes Tilapia for my dearest, oldest
friend,” writes Apple in the four-page post.

Sounds to me like she is the one who either should have a pet with her chosen lifestyle, or she has chosen the wrong lifestyle all together. I don't know too many homebodys like she's making herself out to be, that are celebrities.
No, I am not one to own a pet. I cannot see myself taking a day off from work, losing a days pay, for a dog. That is money that my family loses out on, regardless off how much it is. And even if I were single, it's just a dog.
Click to expand...
Fiona Apple, has, lets say, some "issues". But she really doesn't live the celebrity lifestyle. This article about her is quite fascinating and revealing.

Hiding Out With Fiona Apple, Musical Hermit -- Vulture

Nothing wrong with not being a pet person, some are and some aren't. Live and let live.
 
Just like every pet is different, every person is different, and the way we choose to live our lives, with or without pets is our personal choice. No one is better than someone else for the choices they make, if they are true to themselves and what is right for their lifestyle. It is these choices and differences in each of us that keeps this world interesting.:)
 
Gmash said:
I think real life is more important than show business. She can always reschedule a tour..., but once her friend is gone, she's gone. I admire the fact that she doesn't really care about her career. She doesn't make an album every year to please a record company, and she is doing what she feels is right for her now. True, most of us wouldn't have the luxury to stay home from work, but she is still leaving a lot of money on the table by doing this, and that shows what is important to her.
Click to expand...
Show business is real life for the people who make it happen. And for the people in the business who don't make the millions of dollars that the star does, the ones for whom the job is what gives them food clothing and shelter, it's a very real and very important matter.

To put it another way, if I'm given a choice about what species gets priority, it will be homo sapiens every time. I love my pets, but the well being of actual people takes precedence.

Speaking as someone who used to work for and with some pretty big name musicians, the qualities that you admire, acting aloof, blowing off the business part of the job and eccentric behavior is something that we have a term for. It's prima donna. The industry has more than enough of those.

I also question whether it's right to prolong the agony for the dog, which at 14 is at the end of its natural life span anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom