Activists Want Disclaimer In Disney Film
Animal rights activists are demanding that Walt Disney Studios add a disclaimer to the upcoming film "102 Dalmatians" warning potential owners about the dogs' characteristics.
Dalmatian rescue groups are predicting a glut of unwanted dogs based on the large numbers of Dalmatians that landed in shelters and were destroyed following the release of "101 Dalmatians" in 1996.
"People literally went from the movie theater to the pet stores and the breeders" to buy the dogs, and later abandoned them, said Ann Herrington, president of Media Partners for Pets, a nonprofit animal rights organization.
Dalmatians are often high strung and don't always make the best pets for children. More than a quarter are born hearing-impaired.
Activists demonstrated outside Disney's studios on Monday and tried to deliver a letter to Disney chairman and CEO Michael Eisner demanding the disclaimer.
They also want 1 percent of the proceeds from the film's ticket and merchandise sales donated to Dalmatian rescue groups and no-kill shelters.
A Disney spokeswoman, Andrea Marozas, declined to comment on the activists' letter or Monday's demonstration.
The studio issued a statement during the weekend announcing a partnership with the Dalmatian Club of America, a breeders' organization, to promote pet adoption and awareness in conjunction with November's release of the film.
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