Skechers to Air Ad in Super Bowl that Depicts Animal Cruelty
January 13, 2012 in Featured, Home, Newsletter by Jillian at Tails
During last year’s Super Bowl, Skechers aired a commercial featuring Kim Kardashian for its Shape-Ups shoe line. While it was undoubtedly sexy and racy (just like most Super Bowl ads!) it didn’t have animal advocates fired up and protesting the brand. That’s changed with this year’s ad.
More than 44,000 people have already signed a Change.org protest calling for the shoe maker to change its planned 2012 Super Bowl commercial that is shot at a dog racing park.
The commercial, which was shot at Tuscon Greyhound Park, shows a smaller dog wearing Skechers beating the other dogs on the track during a race. Animal advocates are upset because of the inhumane way that Greyhound racing dogs are treated—they are kept confined in small cages which prevent them from being able to fully stand up or turn around, are fed the meat of downed or diseased animals, face risk of serious injury, and are often euthanized once their racing days are over.
While the popularity of Greyhound racing is diminishing, it’s still a problem many animal advocates continue to fight. For more information on this protest against the Skechers Super Bowl ad, and to sign in support of the protest, visit the Change.org petition here:Â http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-the-super-bowl-ad-promoting-dog-racing.
Patti Kemper said on January 13, 2012
As a Adopted Parent of Several retired Greyhounds, I am asking you to Please do not promote such a horrible “sport” as Greyhound racing. These poor dogs are treated as nothing more than Product . Mistreated their entire Life. Thrown away when their use has depleted. These are Beautiful, Smart,Gentle,dogs that do not deserve this abuse.
val said on January 12, 2012
It is unconscionable that Skechers would shoot an ad at this notorious dog track where hundreds of dogs live lives of confinement and die on the track.Â
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At Tucson Greyhound Park, greyhounds are kept confined in small cages which are barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around. They are fed raw 4-D meat, the meat of downed, diseased, disabled or dead livestock. This was documented in a recent video investigation.
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While racing, greyhounds face the risk of serious injury. According to state records, between January 2007 and November 2009, nearly 1,000 greyhound injuries were reported at Arizona racetracks. The most common injury was a broken leg, and other reported injuries included fractures, sprains, dislocations, muscle tears and strains, lacerations, a cracked skull, broken backs, heat stroke, puncture wounds and paralysis. To learn more, please see our full report and video at http://www.grey2kusa.org.
Val Wolf, Board Member GREY2K USA
Peter Babikan said on January 12, 2012
I feel that an ad which glorifies a humane industry should not be aired for millions of people to see. Greyhounds suffer immeasurable amounts of torture and suffering and for Skechers to humorize their plight is unacceptable. Please reconsider airing this ad and choose a less sensitive topic for the promotion of your shoe line.