Don’t call her a bitch – dog shows accused of promoting misogyny
They are primped and preened to look their finest before being paraded in front of a crowd of ogling onlookers.
Dog shows may seem like a celebration of human love for our furry friends, but now they are accused of contributing to misogyny.
Anyone who buys or breeds dogs cannot be considered a feminist, Peta, the animal rights group, has said in an attack on the ethics of dog breeding and canine ‘‘beauty pageants’’.
In a blog post entitled ‘‘You can’t be a feminist and buy a dog’’, the group’s American branch said that by buying a dog, owners were ‘‘funding sexual exploitation’’.
Noting that ‘‘bitch’’ was often used as an insult, it said: ‘‘Perhaps that’s because, in breeders’ circles, female dogs’ main purposes are to win beauty pageants and then to be bred repeatedly until their bodies wear out.
‘‘In puppy mills and breeding operations, female dogs are trapped in a nightmare sickeningly similar to the illicit sex trade. Their bodies are controlled, manipulated, bought, and sold.’’
Asked whether it was attacking dog shows as anti-feminist, a spokeswoman for Peta UK said: ‘‘Any institution that treats females as breeding machines is anti-feminist. Not only are dog shows such as Crufts creepy, they also encourage people to breed dogs purely for their physical appearance, commonly at the expense of their health.’’
While attacking puppy farms, the US blog also said that while ‘‘breeders may churn out fewer litters than puppy mills ... they still treat female dogs as moneymaking commodities. And unlike many animal shelters, most breeders don’t screen their buyers, instead handing over a living, thinking, feeling animal to anyone with a credit card’’.
The post adds that ‘‘even hobby breeders force female dogs to bear litter after litter of puppies, who will be taken away and sold off for a quick buck’’.
Peta has repeatedly expressed its opposition to dog shows such as Crufts, though not typically in feminist terms. The group organised a protest at the event in Birmingham this month, with two activists running into the arena during the Best In Show award ceremony.
‘‘In puppy mills and breeding operations, female dogs are trapped in a nightmare sickeningly similar to the illicit sex trade. Their bodies are controlled, manipulated, bought, and sold.’’
Peta
A spokeswoman for the Kennel Club, which runs Crufts, said there was generally a balance between male and female dogs on show, and added that many owners entered their own beloved pets. Peta has called on people to ‘‘end the sexual exploitation of female animals’’ by adopting from shelters and rescue centres.
‘‘No breeding and selling of companion animals can be considered ‘responsible’,’’ it said, while there were millions of pets in shelters.
Dog lovers attacked the post online.
Lucie Jayne Betts, an author, tweeted: ‘‘I didn’t buy mine, I rescued him, so according to Peta, I apparently get to keep my feminist card. Though besides, there’s a HUGE difference between reputable breeding and puppy farms. Likening dog breeding to human sexual exploitation is absurd. Utter drivel.’’
Caroline Kisko, secretary of the Kennel Club, said: ‘‘All breeders, from individuals who only ever breed one litter through to largescale breeding establishments, should be adhering to the Animal Welfare Act and prioritising the health and wellbeing of dogs above all else. It is crucial for anyone considering getting a dog to do their research and go to a responsible breeder or a rescue organisation to avoid unknowingly supporting the puppy farming trade.’’