I am WAY behind in oh, so many things and will strive to catch up, but figured better to jump in with controversy than be left totally behind.
Westminster dropped Pedigree and signed up Purina for their TV coverage ads. Why? They have been quite open about their reasons - Pedigree insisted on concentrating on mixed breeds and stressing shelter adoptions. Westminster's entire reason for existing is to promote wellbred purebred dogs - from reputable breeders and with excellent breed standard representation. When you see a Chihuahua on Westminster, you KNOW it is a Chihuahua.
Westminster does not hate mixed breeds or hate shelter adoptions. Simply, their "product" if you will, is purebred dogs. So why have advertising that represents someone else's ideal? Would you expect Ford to run ads featuring Toyotas?
Westminster has done a great deal to promote dogs, all dogs. The "Angel on a Leash" therapy dog group that David Frei works with encourages any and all dogs. Many of the fund raisers support causes that will help all dogs. Education is worked into the broadcasts and mixed breed owners would benefit from learning about the "dogs behind their dog".
Many shelters have discovered themselves that showing photos of dirty, crowded, starving dogs does not help adoptions. When people see clean, obviously happy dogs, they think what a great addition a dog would be for their family.
Yes, there are those who are attracted to the idea of rescuing an injured or abused dog, but motives are sometimes suspect in those cases. Shelters have to carefully screen adopters who are only interested in the dog who made headlines for his sad situation. While some are truly good hearted people, some simply want to be able to say that they "rescued" the dog in the paper. Fifteen minutes or less of fame and a dog who isn't truly loved or wanted.
Before I am jumped on with both feet, note that *I* have worked at a shelter, have adopted a dog from a shelter, have helped with rescues and yes, heaven forbid, I choose for the most part to own purebred dogs - from reputable breeders.
Thank you for tackling this topic Deb!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I am a PROUD RESPONSIBLE purebred dog breeder and have owned purebred AND mixed breed dogs ALL of my life.
I have great respect for those groups that help animals who ended up in shelters by no fault of their own and I have done much to support my local area shelter by doing temperament evaluations for them as well as some transport and even from time to time, fostering.
With all of that said, Westminster is the showcase of the AKC PUREBRED dog showing and breed venue. From the beginning I was not happy with the Pedigree ads for that venue. I felt it was highly inappropriate and considering that purebred dog owners and breeders are facing an every increasing onslaught of attack as 'bad', 'evil', 'uncaring', 'irresponsible' etc, was not the right venue or message that should be going on by a sponsor of one of the largest most prominent dog shows. Westminster heard the Fancy's outcry and tried to get Pedigree to change their ads, Pedigree continued to create their 'pull on the guilt and heartstrings' ads for shelter/stray dog rescue. Westminster was smart to move on to a new company that is more interested in providing venue appropriate ad spots.
Shelters and Rescue is an important part of being responsible stewards to our animals that we love so much.. To help those that fall through the cracks into irresponsible hands for whatever reasons. They should be a safety net for the animals and if you can find an animal that fits your lifestyle and needs through a rescue group or shelter, fantastic. On the flip side, if you enjoy specific things about a specific breed and have sports and activities you want to do, there is NOTHING wrong with finding a responsible breeder to work with to get you that ideal companion and during the Westminster show, I want to see promotion of our wonderful world of purebred dogs and dog sports.
Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhile Pedigree's shelter ads are laudable, let's not also forget their ultimate goal is to sell food. And if they can get folks to buy more food to help 'donate' to shelter operations, well then at the end of the day it's a corporate benefit.
I loved so many of the commercials last night, showing dogs, in all walks of life, doing things with the humans they adore. Much more educational to the people watching, showing that dogs are more than ornaments, and far more than something to be relegated to the backyard
Nice commentary Deb. This is one thing I wish more people understood.., purebred dog breeders DO rescue dogs and live with both purebred and non-purebred rescues. I don't know many dog people that won't take in a dog in need and we usually end up keeping the difficult cases because they wouldn't make it somewhere else.
ReplyDelete