A T.V. ad produced by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is raising eyebrows among dog owners in the Sacramento area. It is linked to the death of white supremacist David Lynch, who was murdered last week in Citrus Heights. The ad shows a meeting of the American Kennel Club that is attended by a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
When asked if he was at the wrong meeting, he says he fits right in because the organization believes in purity of bloodlines and selective breeding. The ad is designed to get people to adopt mixed breed dogs as opposed to purebreds.
“Whenever somebody buys a dog from a breeder or a pet store a dog from local animal shelter loses that chance for a good home,” said Ashley Byrne, Senior Campaigner for P.E.T.A.
Byrne said Lynch’s murder was an opportunity to make something good of an topical story.
“The death of white Supremacist David Lynch has rekindled the dialogue about those who believe in the purity of the races and bloodlines,” said Byrne.
But dog owner Meribeth Bean, who owns two mixed breed dogs, said P.E.T.A. was “going to the extreme.” She said purebred dog owners love their animals too and that the finger-pointing should go to people who don’t spay or neuter their dogs. In addition, she said she lived in the South with a black family when the Klan was active.
“I felt the vibes of the KKK and what they were trying to do and I was it was hurtful to them,” said Bean.
Dog owner Jennifer Dossman was also taken aback when she viewed the dad, but reacted with nervous laughter. She and others at a Sacramento dog park thought the ad was clever as well as controversial. She acknowledged that some people might be offended, but said “I never really thought about it like that. I see the similarities between the KKK and the AKC). I understand what P.E.T.A. is doing.”
That is of course P.E.T.A.’s goal. But the controversy also means some T.V. stations won’t run the ad. However, P.E.T.A. gets free media coverage as a result of that controversy as well.
Fox 40
