I received a letter this morning from the ITC, following my e-mail complaining about using dogs in such a way as showing them as fashion accessories etc.

<< This advertisment is about 'perfect fit price plan' and illustrates this with a man choosing a dog. We received a small number of complaints from viewers who do not like animals to be treated as accessories and/or have reservations about any kind of trade in animals. We have checked the advertisment and we don't feel that what is shown breaches our Advertising code......Blah blah blah>>>>

liberty :( :(

It probably is subsidised by the Welsh Office in their attempt to promote Welsh puppies along with Welsh beef etc. (see thread on puppy farming in Wales)

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

I got the same letter this morning - it said that they had had a 'small number of complaints'

I really don't understand why the advert caused so much offence.
I think people took it well out of context.

The majority of people are well aware dogs are not for use as an
accessory. Be assured that I am all for animal welfare
and love my dog more than anything, and have always respected
all other animals equally i.e. the time I cried on Blackpool beach and saw how sad the donkeys looked. :-)

However, surely there are other issues that are far more serious
and worrying than the phone ad?

of course there are other issues more important and it doesn't mean to say that I do care about them either. I'm not going to go into the reasons I wrote again, this thread was posted about the ITC letter and not the advert.

Well said Moo :)

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, personally I found the Ad upsetting in the way dogs and puppies were portrayed. Hence my e-mail. If louise barnes isn't offended, fine.

liberty :)

indeedy....louise if people thougt like you all the time nothing would ever be complained about - the old adage goes 'theres always someone worse off than you' - doesnt mean theres no point in speaking out about what we may believe is wrong. there may be worse cases of misuse of animals, say for example bear baiting... but then again there may also be worse cases still than this - but bear baiting is still a terrible thing.
But you are entitled to your own views of course :)
lynz

Well I totaly agree with Louise. I think you took the advert out of context. It is just the same as if they had shown different animals, ie, not all animals would suite all people.
Did Louise really need attacking for her view? I think not, but hey, if you are that petty, it's your loss.
Maybe not all things HAVE to be complained about.

As I have already said; everyone is entitled to their opinion; and for the record it didn't depict different animals, but different breeds of dogs.

I didn't say they showed different animals, I said it was the same. that some suite some people and others don't.
I have a Bichon Frise, there are lots of other dogs which wouldn't suite me, eg Great Dane, Lab ect.
THAT is what the advert was trying to get across.

I think the ad is saying that you buy puppies from shops and chose the one that "suits you"as in matches your hair etc as opposed to your lifestyle.He realy looked like he did his research on his chosen breed-I think not!!He chose one that matched his hair!
Yes there are more pressing issues to complain about but this advert is giving the wrong impresion to the public about how and why to buy a dog.Which in my book is important.
Hazel

If this issue isn't important then why after every new 101 dalmations film is there a sudden increase in the number of dalmation puppies floating around (only to find themselves in rescues somewhere further along the line). Its an unfortunate part of our society that dogs have become victims of our throwaway society and often for some just another consummable (like buying the latest TV/DVD/CD, etc.)

Showing someone choosing different breeds, for example looking in an encyclopaedia and showing action shots in the chaps minds eye of these, would actually have been a responsibole step, showing some thought goinbg into the process. What has upset posters is showing the pups being chosen like sweets from a shop! Now that is the IRRESPONSIBLE WAY to choose, buy or sell a pup.

The smae mesage could have been got accross without the shop keeper!

Hi, also got a letter a couple of weeks ago. At least we tried to make the point!

I think that unfortunately as this was, I presume, done in Spain, as that is where the dog was living at the time, where you can buy dogs in pet shops that this is why they aren't really bothered. The company don't even know which breed it is, which I'm happy about as we've enquired, pretending that we don't know and they say it's a Puli. I just hope that it doesn't make people go out for this breed.

Trouble is you can also buy dogs in petshops in the UK!

Indeed Frankieb theres a pet shop in Blackpool, that sells puppies. No home checks, no questions.....

Donna and charliex