The San Francisco SPCA launched the second phase of their anti-puppy mill campaign. They've installed a "puppy bin" in the highly trafficked plaza at the intersection of Sacramento and Drumm Streets, near Embarcadero center (and the Hyatt Regency Hotel). It is an area flowing with tourists and office workers daily. The bin will remain there until 3pm Friday, May 4th.
The bin looks like a typical newspaper stand, except the glass front is a video of puppies, with their cries. Within the bin is The Canine Tribune, featuring articles about puppy mills. The bin is similar in size to puppy mill cages.
EMOTIONAL * POWERFUL * INSIGHTFUL * POIGNANT * PROFOUND
Watch the reactions from the people walking by to the sounds of puppies in a cage, in this 30 second snippet...it gives a new meaning to reality television.
“We wanted to do something completely unique in order to grab people’s attention and really drive home the deplorable conditions puppy mill dogs are forced to endure,” said Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, veterinarian and SF SPCA co-president.
“This bin is a powerful reminder that we are often duped by false advertising. When San Franciscans buy puppies online, they unwittingly purchase from puppy mills, perpetuating a cycle of misery that benefits only the mill owners and puppy wholesalers.”
“We are inundated with traditional advertising on a daily basis so we needed to find a way to break through the clutter in order to demonstrate the well-documented abuses dogs suffer in puppy mills every day, including lack of access to veterinary care, hunger, forced over-breeding, lack of shelter and rampant disease,” said Jason Walthall, SF SPCA co-president.
“By raising awareness in this creative way, we aim to educate current and potential dog owners in the hope that they will make the right decisions about where to get their dog.”
The Canine Tribune, featuring articles and stories is designed to educate readers about the realities of puppy mills as well as alternative options available to those who want a dog.
The bins were designed and built in conjunction with BBDO San Francisco, an advertising agency that provided the creative pro bono. BBDO San Francisco also helped to develop the first phase of the public awareness campaign which launched on April 18 and featured a microsite that illustrates the deceptive nature of puppy mill advertising (www.bluespringvalleydogs.com).
For more information, visit sfspca.org
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The San Francisco SPCA
Support the San Francisco SPCA by adopting, donating, volunteering and becoming a client of the state- of-the-art SF SPCA Veterinary Hospital at the Leanne B. Roberts Animal Care Center. SF SPCA has San Francisco volunteer opportunities to care for shelter dogs and cats, conduct adoption counseling, assist clients and veterinary staff at the Leanne B. Roberts Animal Care Center, provide foster care, help with the Community Cats Program, and enrich the lives of people in the community through animal-assisted therapy.
For more information about San Francisco pet adoption, call the San Francisco SPCA at (415) 522-3500 or visit sfspca.org.
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