Not so Super and more than a Tiny bit depressing actually
While loved Ashleigh and Pudsey on Britain's Got Talent (which was on ITV) - we hated Keith Lemon's LemonAid appearing to give a Pug away as a prize to children (also on ITV).
And it was the recent LemonAid shocker that made me recall a previous ITV animal disaster programme Super Tiny Animals which showed just before Christmas and was full of 'iccle this and that and was glorifying Teacup dogs and tiny endangered monkeys... and a whole host of very mutant animals without any sense of outrage.
It was horribly irresponsible TV and at the time all the charities plus the BVA and KC were Super Huge Upset by it and were pretty much shunned by a petulant ITV who didn't seem to ever put their hands up and say sorry. Certainly not publicly.
But we had hoped they'd at least listened.
But no.
If you want to know what all the fuss was about with the last one... here is the link to the blog. As you can see everyone tried to make it less damaging, there was a united affront! But did they listen or even respond? No.
So what do we do this time?
They're obviously not going to pull it, they're already well underway. But can we influence the content subtly?
We're not against small dogs, far from it. Beautiful Bonnie was on our December front cover and Mr Hudson, a Boston terrier, has just joined our office staff. What we need is for people to small dogs as dogs and not things.
The depiction of small dogs as fashionable handbag accessories and impulse purchases that you can dress up really is hugely irresponsible.
Can we show them that small dogs are living breathing sentient beings? Show them some examples of small dog brilliance that covertly shows the viewer that they are getting so much more than a fully toy?
Anyone got any other bright ideas? They really need to address the health concerns with breeding for ever smaller dogs - last time that American pet shop owner saying the Teacup Chihuahuas she was selling from glass fronted boxes was a particularly healthy one as it only had a tiny bit of water on the brain.... ugh.
Here's the invite to the event that is being filmed - if you have a small dog that isn't just 'arm candy' perhaps you'd like to attend and show and tell what your small dogs can really do? Any small dogs with jobs? Let me know what your little dog can do. Any small dogs that can dance? Any tiny dogs doing agility or obedience? Any small dogs that have had health problems because of their size? Any small dogs that have been rehomed due to them being given up after a young owner got bored of them?
And it was the recent LemonAid shocker that made me recall a previous ITV animal disaster programme Super Tiny Animals which showed just before Christmas and was full of 'iccle this and that and was glorifying Teacup dogs and tiny endangered monkeys... and a whole host of very mutant animals without any sense of outrage.
It was horribly irresponsible TV and at the time all the charities plus the BVA and KC were Super Huge Upset by it and were pretty much shunned by a petulant ITV who didn't seem to ever put their hands up and say sorry. Certainly not publicly.
But we had hoped they'd at least listened.
But no.
Photo from ITV website from the first programme
Last night I was sent a press release inviting me to tell others about an event that was being filmed for ... SUPER TINY ANIMALS!If you want to know what all the fuss was about with the last one... here is the link to the blog. As you can see everyone tried to make it less damaging, there was a united affront! But did they listen or even respond? No.
So what do we do this time?
They're obviously not going to pull it, they're already well underway. But can we influence the content subtly?
We're not against small dogs, far from it. Beautiful Bonnie was on our December front cover and Mr Hudson, a Boston terrier, has just joined our office staff. What we need is for people to small dogs as dogs and not things.
The depiction of small dogs as fashionable handbag accessories and impulse purchases that you can dress up really is hugely irresponsible.
Can we show them that small dogs are living breathing sentient beings? Show them some examples of small dog brilliance that covertly shows the viewer that they are getting so much more than a fully toy?
Anyone got any other bright ideas? They really need to address the health concerns with breeding for ever smaller dogs - last time that American pet shop owner saying the Teacup Chihuahuas she was selling from glass fronted boxes was a particularly healthy one as it only had a tiny bit of water on the brain.... ugh.
Here's the invite to the event that is being filmed - if you have a small dog that isn't just 'arm candy' perhaps you'd like to attend and show and tell what your small dogs can really do? Any small dogs with jobs? Let me know what your little dog can do. Any small dogs that can dance? Any tiny dogs doing agility or obedience? Any small dogs that have had health problems because of their size? Any small dogs that have been rehomed due to them being given up after a young owner got bored of them?
Here's the wording in case you can't read the above...
You are invited to
Verve London’s Flagship Store Red Carpet 1st Birthday Party.
Friday 18th May – 6pm onwards.
Drinks and canapés from 6pm and an introduction from Verve featuring the launch of our new summer collection of dog collars and human-grade dog chocolates.
Celebrity guest appearances and performances.
The event will also be filmed for an ITV documentary
“Super Tiny Animals”
so bring your pets along for the wonderful Verve experience.
RSVP
vervelondon@aol.com
Andre – 07960 898095
www.verve-london.com
Verve London Pet Boutique & Cafe Bar
Flagship Store: 179 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, London, W11 2SB
Yours,
Andre Carless
What else can we all do?
Of course all the charities and the KC and BVA need to get back in touch with both ITV and the ITV studios who seem to be making this documentary and urge them to be a LOT MORE responsible this time.
Here's what the ITV website says about the previous programme. You can see why they want to do it again. It was VERY popular with young people, I think we could tell that from the way Twitter lit up with young people wanting a tiny donkey or an 'iccle piglet or a teacup dog for Xmas.
"This slot-winning documentary performed extremely well on ITV1 in November 2011 achieving a 22% share. With 5.2 million viewers, Super Tiny Animals performed above the slot average in terms of viewer volume and performed fantastically with younger audiences gaining 35% on the slot average for 16-24 year olds and a 24% gain for 16-34 year olds."
Their blurb makes it sound much more cerebral than it really was...
Super Tiny Animals
From tea-cup chihuahuas to miniature pigs, the demand for mini-pets is growing but is it a lucrative business or a cruel genetic mutation? This documentary goes behind the scenes of what is fast becoming a multi-million pound industry. Candid interviews with breeders and owners reveal the extent of the demand which now extends to supplying tiny cows, pigs, rabbits, horses and even goats. Probing and insightful, Super Tiny Animals is a compelling look into a world of incessant human intervention.
From tea-cup chihuahuas to miniature pigs, the demand for mini-pets is growing but is it a lucrative business or a cruel genetic mutation? This documentary goes behind the scenes of what is fast becoming a multi-million pound industry. Candid interviews with breeders and owners reveal the extent of the demand which now extends to supplying tiny cows, pigs, rabbits, horses and even goats. Probing and insightful, Super Tiny Animals is a compelling look into a world of incessant human intervention.
Let's have a brainstorm, what can we do to stop ITV's next episode just portraying small dogs as a must have fashion accessory.
Anyone got any anecdotes as to how more small dogs ended up in rescue after this first documentary was shown?
Email me beverley@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk
Comments
If I remember rightly from the John Lewis advert, the Jordan Shelley debacle and the recent Keith Lemon Upset, it's:
1) File a formal complaint with the channel it was/will be aired on (BBC, ITV etc)
2) File a formal complaint with the production company responsible for the show
3) Complain to OFCOM (or similar governing body such as the ASA)
4) If such a thing exists, sign the relevant petition, which can be used to show depth of feeling and the numbers of people concerned.
I hope that's correct. If there's any other avenues which can be pursued to get this (and any other upsetting television coverage) off the air, do please let me know!