09/12/2020
Official statement regarding proposed BBC Three programme 'Will My Puppies Make Me Rich?':
"I’m usually a big fan of BBC THREE and its often ground-breaking content & comedy. However I join fellow animal welfare campaigners & dog-lovers across the UK in being deeply concerned that this programme is not only ill-conceived & exploitative to animals, but potentially dangerous too. Any show following individuals breeding dogs with little or no knowledge & experience, with their sole intention of making a profit implies this is an appropriate, even aspirational money-making venture to consider; a hugely irresponsible message to send to viewers by a publicly funded, or indeed any organisation. Statements like “capitalising on the demand for designer dogs” are especially worrying, as the aim seems to be producing dogs in sufficient quantity & of a certain type, with no consideration of the many significant health or welfare implications that can result. In my opinion, from an animal welfare & educational perspective, BBC THREE’s purpose would be far better served by a series highlighting the frequently tragic outcomes from dog breeding establishments motivated by profit, such as puppy farms or importing sick young pups from overseas; as well as sharing tips on what to look for when buying a puppy, or better still adopting from rescue. It’s extremely disappointing, especially when the Pandemic has seen a spike in irresponsible dog breeding practices both here & abroad, that BBC THREE is commissioning a documentary that effectively promotes & follows a dog breeding business experiment, posing a risk not only to the welfare of the dogs, puppies & people directly involved, but potentially manufacturing cruelty, which can only have a detrimental effect on the lives of thousands of other dogs & humans. I sincerely hope BBC THREE rethinks this terrible idea which only helps to normalise & encourage dog breeding for money; they listen to their license fee-paying animal-lovers across the country & seriously consider their future plans regarding this show, hopefully choosing a much more responsible, acceptable & ethical concept to take its place in our TV guides.”
You can make a complaint to the BBC here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/complaints/make-a-complaint/ #/Complaint
Sign & share this petition: https://www.change.org/p/bbc-stop-the-bbc-producing-new-program-will-my-puppies-make-me-rich
Thanks guys for all your messages, passion & determination to reverse this ludicrously irresponsible commission. Marc
C.A.R.I.A.D. Lucy The Rescue Cavalier All Dogs Matter Mayhew Friends of Animals Wales Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare Our Dogs Dogs Today Magazine Your Dog Magazine Hownd Agria Pet Insurance VioVet Cavalier Matters K-9 Angels TrustedHousesitters Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Peter Egan
