PETA India Appeals to Fans of ‘777 Charlie’ Never to Buy Dogs
Following reports of increased demand for Labradors after the release of 777 Charlie, PETA India has issued an urgent appeal urging the public to refrain from supporting breeders and pet stores, most of which are not registered with their state animal welfare board and are thus illegal. PETA India reminds fans that as per the film’s plot, the dog depicted in 777 Charlie escaped a cruel breeder before ending up on the streets.
Animal shelters in the US reported sharp increases in the number of dumped Dalmatian dogs, many of whom were given to children as gifts, after the release of Disney’s remake of the movie 101 Dalmatians. In recent years, there has also been a spike in the number of huskies being abandoned or handed over to shelters, which experts attribute to increased demand for the breed because of the physical similarities they share with the direwolves shown in Game of Thrones. In fact, portrayals of specific dog breeds in films and television shows – including Legally Blonde and Men in Black – have reportedly caused massive increases in sales of the featured breeds, and many of these dogs are later left at shelters by their ill-prepared guardians.
“Pedigree” dogs sold in pet shops and by breeders are typically deprived of proper veterinary care and adequate food, exercise, affection, and socialisation. Because they’re bred for certain exaggerated physical traits, such as long ears or drooping backs, many foreign dog breeds suffer from abnormally high rates of genetic and hereditary diseases. For instance, pugs are prone to severe health problems such as breathing difficulties, eye problems, encephalitis, and hip dysplasia. Similarly, Labradors are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, obesity, hypothyroidism, and other conditions. In contrast, Indian community dogs are healthier and more robust.
Celebrities Madhuri Dixit, Sunny Leone, Alia Bhatt, Sonakshi Sinha, Raveena Tandon, Trisha Krishnan, Dino Morea, Ashwini Ponnappa, and Imran Khan are among those who have urged their fans to choose to adopt community cats and dogs by working with PETA India.
