Forums Forums Enthusiast Forums A - Z Pets / Animals Disgusted at new T.V show (open the door)

As if ITV would take any notice of complaints (this is the company that robs, in broad daylight, millions of pounds off its viewers remember). You would be better off using the Ofcom complaint process at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/progs/specific/?itemid=286480

As it was broadcast on ITV, they have full responsibility to investigate all complaints recieved.

Noticed that on the (brief) aerial shots that the dogs appeared passive + just sniffed!!

yep and to Ofcom.
I heard a few have written to the r***a charity too

when will people learn

What would the penalty be?

I wrote to ITV yesterday with this letter;

I am writing to you as I have seen this clip of your new show "The Door" and I am absolutely horrified. http://www.itv.com/lifestyle/thismorning/showbiz/christarrant/

The reason I am horrified is that in my opinion the dogs shown here are being abused. In that I mean that they are being deliberately caged and wound up by having celebs scurry past them with meat smeared all over them, scaring them and working them into a frenzy, for cheap viewing thrills. That to me is abuse of an animal, allowing them to be used in this way.

The UK has had a lot of press recently regarding dangerous dogs and I think your programme does nothing to assist the publics fears. In fact I would go so far as to say it heightens peoples fears. It advertises German Shepherds as a breed to be scared of meaning more unlawful people will purchase them for the purposes the Dangerous Dogs Act is trying to outlaw. It puts out a message that you are correct to be afraid of them, as you obviously believe they should be feared or you wouldn't have used them in a programme where you are trying to scare celebrities into doing certain challenges. I think you have been very irresponsible in making this programme, both with your treatment of the dogs and with the message you are conveying by using them in this way.

If this programme is aired I will be writing and complaining to Ofcom and I will do everything in my power via all social networking sites possible to ensure hundreds of others follow suit and join me in complaining.

I thought ITV would have learnt its lesson following the fine you received over the rat incident on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here less than 6 months ago, clearly not.

Regards

and I also wrote to the newspapers with this;

Hi

I have forwarded you an email I have just sent to ITV regarding their new TV show "The Door" and was wondering if you would like to pick up the story?

German Shepherd Forum sites are awash with fury over this programme, relating to the treatment of the dogs, the use of the dogs, the message being sent out by using the dogs and the fact Chris Tarrant refers to them as "rancid".

If you read the link posted to the This Morning clip you will see there are several angry posts.

Can you assist please and report on the outcry? Some believe it is a violation of Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 also.

Regards

and it seems they did pick it up as this appeared today in the Mirror http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/04/03/dogs-stunt-row-over-itv-show-115875-22158814/

Whether you are a dog lover or not is irrelevant here. Point is the message they conveyed by using the dogs in this way was a bad one. I for one, have written to Ofcom to formally complain about this and if anyone else would like to feel free using this link http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/progs/specific/?itemid=414131

Best form of complaint is not watching the TV at all. They won't listen to any form of written/verbal complaint unless they receive a load.

Hency why people are trying to encourage others to write to them. They appear to have received quite a lot do far so there should be an investigation. Its easy to think something is wrong, moan about it but do nothing to prevent it happening again or getting the people responsible to admit they were wrong and apologise. It takes 2 minutes to fill out the Ofcom form and I believe it will make a difference.

I am disgusted. I have got a GSD and it is bad enough trying to explain to people that he is friendly and well behaved without stupid programmes like this one. It is absolutely pointles. The dogs are caged and cannot get to the celebrities anyway they are made to bark for "effect" and to give a sense of danger.

I will be writing to complain about the morons who dreamed up this challange and the damage they are doing to responsible GSD owners. If anyone thinks this tripe is entertainment, you want your head examining.

thanks Capt_America. I also am a GSD owner. The more complaints Ofcom receive the beter. That should wipe the smile off Chris Tarrants smarmy face

i also was horified to see the dogs in cages ....it really upset me and i sent itv an email.....but i doubt they will reply

Why not join us guys?

How can Anonymous keep posting as it says Unregistered ???

This is a TV show, its make believe, it is not real, the dogs were unharmed, its all acting, the dogs are trained animals acting and probably enjoying themselves, right now their probably at home lying in front of the fire doing a bit of knitting. It will do no harm to the GSD breed or any other breed because most of the viewing population will understand its just a show, not reality.
Are we now going to call for police dogs, barking, growling and frothing at the mouth at the end of a lead, while on crowd control to be banned because it might give the wrong impression of a breed.

great letter...

much better than the one I sent but all input is better than no input IMO.
Our breed tolerates enough crap without this sort of nonsence being allowed to go on.

you should show yourself Anonymous and register properly we could do with more people like you here

Well said Bert, I mentioned police dogs earlier and as you say they are trained it is part of their job. It would not surprise me if the dogs used were in fact ex police dogs or police dogs that never made the grade.