Haunting Ad to Coincide With Trio of Dog Shows; Group Warns Viewers in Major Puppy-Mill State That Breeders Kill Shelter Dogs' Chances
For Immediate Release:
April 8, 2011
Contact:
Kristin Richards 202-483-7382
Tulsa — Area viewers watching TV this month will get a glimpse of the darker side of dog breeding as PETA airs its edgy new TV spot "Everyday Dogs." Timed to coincide with three purebred dog shows in the area, the ad shows the result of breeding and buying pedigree dogs: dead shelter dogs. The ad will air on KTPX-TV twice a day this Saturday and Sunday and then twice a week for the rest of April. Why did PETA choose Tulsa? Because Oklahoma has the distinction of being one of the biggest states for puppy mills.
In the darkly humorous spot, people try to interact with their dogs, but in each scene, "man's best friend" is in a body bag, and their guardians' attempts to engage them fall flat. As the spot ends, the screen reads, "If you buy a dog, what will you do with the shelter dog you kill?"
"'Everyday Dogs' reminds viewers that for every dog purchased from a breeder, a shelter dog ends up in a body bag," says PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. "We encourage everyone who wants to add a loving animal to his or her family to visit a local animal shelter and save a life—not take one."
Kennel clubs and dog shows promote the breeding of dogs despite the fact that approximately 8 million animals—including many "purebreds" (themselves a mix of various breeds purposely bred for flat noses, big chests, a keen sense of smell, or a curly coat)—are abandoned at animal shelters every year and that roughly 4 million of those animals must be euthanized because there simply aren't enough good homes to go around. Buying a cat or dog from a pet store or a breeder condemns to death an animal awaiting adoption in a shelter. With its ad, PETA is hoping to discourage residents from buying a dog—or any other animal.
For more information or to view the ad, please visit PETA.org or click here.