An Opinion by Lornna Bates
Managing editor
Westminster Kennel Club recently announced a new, exclusive partnership with Nestlé Purina PetCare to sponsor the Westminster Kennel Club All Breed Dog Show. The announcement came shortly before the 136th annual show held Feb. 13-14 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Previously, long-time sponsor Mars Petcare, makers of the brand Pedigree, held the exclusive partnership. Mars Petcare used the latter portion of the 20 plus years of sponsorship as an opportunity to promote the responsible adoption of animals around the world through the Pedigree Adoption Drive.
According to the Mars Petcare website, the six years of the adoption drive have helped Pedigree raise millions of dollars in funds for homeless dogs, granting money to thousands of shelters and rescue groups across the U.S., and much of its success is achieved every year during and immediately following the airing of the dog show.
Westminster canceled the partnership with Mars Petcare for this very reason.
According to a press release from the Nestlé Purina website, Westminster President Peter R. Van Brunt said, “This new and exciting partnership will further enhance our position as America’s Dog Show and strengthen our ties to the purebred dog community.”
Commercials eliciting sympathy, showing abused and malnourished dogs were apparently not appreciated by the dog show, which is dedicated to purebred dogs and apparently would rather have happy commercials of puppies prancing around or healthy dogs with a happy home playing fetch with their masters.
I have developed a stronger respect for Pedigree since hearing of this ordeal.
I have also lost any and all respect for the Westminster Kennel Club. Yes, I realize that they are in the purebred dog industry, but ultimately all dogs are equally deserving of love and support.
As the daughter of a breeder of pureblood Great Danes, and the owner of three rat terriers, a breed that is mixed and therefore not recognized by the American Kennel Club (if you have ever heard of dogs being AKC registered), I can tell you that there is no difference.
I have seen people pay hundreds, if not thousands, to purchase a dog. All three of my terriers were free. Are my three little babies worth less as pets because they are not purebred and were not purchased?
I can guarantee that mine have been treated with as much, if not more, love and care than many of the dogs people have bought over the years from my mother.
And after spending quite a bit of time around a brood of Great Danes (all pureblood, registered, blah-blah-blah), I can also guarantee that my little dogs are smarter, more well-behaved and more appreciative of being saved from the circumstances they were housed in before we got them and cleaned them up.
Not to say that all purebred dogs are as ditzy and goofy as Great Danes because that is not my point. And I am in no way saying that Great Danes are bad dogs to own because they are also a wonderful breed. They are where my experience with pure breed dogs originates, versus my not-so-pure breed of dogs.
My point is simple. All dogs deserve the best, and if the commercials provide an opportunity to help animals in need, by all means, air them.
To drop Pedigree because of the sad nature of the commercials was a poor decision by Westminster.
I realize the advertisements are depressing (for those who may not be a bleeding heart like I am), but they are for a good cause and effective for the purpose they are intended: raising funds to prevent those heart-wrenching situations.
And the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was an avenue to spread the message to millions of dog lovers across the nation, across the world.
It appears to me as if Westminster has turned a back to the needy animals that in most cases make the best, and certainly the most appreciative, pets.
It is borderline cruelty to animals for Westminster to purposely omit the message from the airing of their precious and pampered pure breed dog show.