Westminster Dog Show viewers are apparently turned off by Pedigree’s ads promoting dog adoption. So Westminster dumped Pedigree and their dog adoption drive.
Animal rescue groups, shelters, and advocacy organizations spend millions each year fighting to save more and more lives, but Westminster and their viewers want to sweep it under the rug.
According to a Yahoo! News story posted yesterday, “Pedigree was ‘surprised and disappointed’ when it was dropped by Westminster”, senior [Pedigree] brand manager Lisa Campbell said. Campbell said Westminster had made it clear in recent years ‘that we had become too focused on adoptions.’” Too focused on adoptions? How can anyone be too focused on adoptions when, according to the ASPCA, 3-4 million pets die in shelters in the US each year because there’s no one to adopt them?
Purina wasted no time stepping up to fill Pedigree's shoes. A Westminster spokesman, according to the article, said Westminster will have input into the commercials Purina will show. Purina is paying Westminster, probably many millions, for the advertising rights. One has to wonder if the new ads will even promote adoption? Or is the mere mention of homeless pets too much for the folks at Westminster, too?
The show starts tomorrow, and don't worry - you won't see a single shelter dog.
Photo: Chico, available for adoption at Dallas Animal Services.
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Copyright Rebecca Poling 2011. All rights reserved.
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