Dogs Trust's new statement on John Lewis
“Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, has written to John Lewis to urge them to consider the welfare messages conveyed when using animals in their marketing activities and we are waiting for a response. As the charity who coined the phrase “A Dog is for Life, Not Just for Christmas”, we feel it is disappointing that the John Lewis Christmas advert continues to show the family dog being left out in the cold this Christmas. This is an irresponsible way to depict dog ownership. ”
We asked the RSPCA to comment and they said, "It's not our place to comment, people should be directed to the ASA to complain."
I'll leave it to you to comment on the RSPCA's lack of comment...!
I've asked Battersea if they'd like to refresh their comment, waiting to hear back.
We asked the RSPCA to comment and they said, "It's not our place to comment, people should be directed to the ASA to complain."
I'll leave it to you to comment on the RSPCA's lack of comment...!
I've asked Battersea if they'd like to refresh their comment, waiting to hear back.
Comments
My words "RSPCA YOU WILL NEVER EVER RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM ME AGAIN, YOU DO NOT CARE FOR ANIMALS YOU JUST CARE ABOUT THE ALMIGHTY POUND AND GOOD PUBLICITY - SHAME ON YOU!!"
Thank goodness for the Dogs Trust, whom we have supported over the years. Shame on JL for continuing to ignore public opinion.
Just to put the record straight - our girl lives with 3 other dogs and visits local primary schools to give demos of obedience, dance and agility - she loves the kids and they cuddle her BIG TIME.
http://twitpic.com/394x10
Warning incredibly upsetting image.
You can also see some samples of what the RSPCA is actually doing to help dogs and other animals if you follow http://twitter.com/RSPCA_frontline
The campaign is trying to make sure people don't think it's okay to put your dog in a shed. Dogs in sheds get forgotten. I remember several key cases in my own breed where people locked their dogs away and then started to forget to feed them, visit them. One of our readers rescued one Beardie that had gone blind due to malnutrition.
That was a famous RSPCA case, but the damage was already done. I am disappointed that the RSPCA isn't speaking up about this issue. Taking action after the suffering has occurred is too late.
Dogs in sheds are a bad idea.
People in the RSPCA are near breaking point. Do you want to be the last straw that broke the camel's back?
No campaign, just asking for their support!
I've been a dog owner since last year and my relationship with my dog has changed my life. Amazing how you can change and grow as a person when a dog comes into your life, although I'm sure that isn't news to most people here!
When I first saw the John Lewis ad, I admit the significance of what I was looking at didn't immediately hit me. The reason is that I've been brought up the same way as most people in the UK - with that cultural image of a dog in a kennel, its "happy" doggy home in the garden. It's not that I noticed it, and thought it was OK. It's that it didn't even impinge on my thoughts when that image of a dog in a kennel came on tv. That's what's scary about it. It's subliminally reinforcing the idea of a dog being OK in a kennel out in the cold. When you look again and take it in however, it's not hard to see something really isn't right.
Just as we now know it's not OK to let your dog wander about the streets anymore where it could be hit by traffic etc (this wasn't the case not so long ago)we need it to impinge on the national consciousness that dogs aren't actually OK out in all weathers in a kennel in the garden.
Thanks Beverley, Dog's Trust, and all others who are pursuing this. Let's hope that at the very least, this debate in the public arena will at least cause some to look again, and learn more about how dogs should be properly cared for.