Will my puppies make me rich...petition

[zeta1454]

I just saw this petition on Facebook and checked to see if it could be true that the BBC are promoting a documentary on puppy breeding as a potential money spinning business for young entrepreneurs wanting to cash in on designer dogs and potentially other in demand breeds. Although not specifically affecting schnauzers, the whole concept of this is sickening at a time when there is already a crisis in terms of dogs being bred for profit at extortionate prices by those who care only for money and understand nothing about dog welfare at all and with puppy farmed dogs being bought thoughtlessly during lockdown restrictions and many abandoned soon afterwards.

This is the link to a petition to try and halt the airing of this programme:

https://www.change.org/p/bbc-stop-the-b ... -en-gb%3A2

And this is the link with further details of the programme:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2020/ ... ke-me-rich

Although it is not possible to know how the programme will deal with the topic, the following quotes from the linked article are disturbing:

“With average puppy prices doubling in the last six months because of Covid-19, this timely film will look at some of the 20-somethings looking to launch new businesses breeding designer canines........aspirational social media savvy individuals in the North are learning the ropes when it comes to breeding, and capitalising on the demand for designer dogs.”

And the fact that this documentary was chosen to be aired as “....we love ideas that are aspirational and the business angle baked into this again felt really timely and ambitious.”

Although the article states that it will consider what constitutes good and bad practice in dog breeding, the whole idea of the programme is clearly stated as regarding breeding dogs as a business venture open to people who need have no background or understanding of dog welfare and solely being done to make money. Very few if any reputable breeders make a living from breeding dogs and it is worrying that this idea of unemployed individuals being encouraged to set up a business breeding dogs is so close to the situation that occurred in Wales (and elsewhere) after the Foot and Mouth epidemic of 2001 which decimated cattle herds and led to farmers being given grants to diversify into puppy farming as an alternative source of income.

I do find it really depressing that young people are thinking of a documentary about dog breeding with this business angle and that the BBC are supporting it.

[Oscar 12345]

Signed.

[schnauzer]

Signed

[Dawnspell]

Signed
The BBC are going off the rails in more ways than this, not the credible company it used to be.