Hey, companies. Mock humans all you want (we’re really asking for it), but leave animals alone. Jerks.
GoDaddy.com, aka the company that we think just has Danika Patrick on retainer, has released a Super Bowl ad that we guess is supposed to poke fun at Budweiser’s precious, heartwarming, tear-jerking puppy commercials. Instead of people laughing at it, however, people are really pissed off.
The commercial (above), features a puppy falling off the back of a truck and making a long, arduous journey back home. Once the owners see him return, they are giddy with relief…because they just sold him online using a GoDaddy powerwed website.
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Putting aside the unfunny, cruel content, the commercial makes light of Internet puppy mills. And not only are people voicing their outrage against GoDaddy on all forms of social media, but now there is a petition on Change.org to pull the ad.
“Whether or not this was meant to be satirical, it’s offensive. Essentially, Go Daddy is encouraging private breeding/puppy mills while shelter animals wait patiently for their forever homes or worse – to be euthanized. They are also encouraging purchasing an animal online; the animal could be sold to someone who runs a fighting ring, someone who abuses animals, or to someone who cannot adequately care for the animal. Animal rights are no laughing matter and to portray them as such is cruel and irresponsible.”
Really @godaddy-you want to sensationalize DOG BREEDING when thousands of dogs are killed every day? @NoDaddy is what I tell my web clients.
— CharityPaws (@charitypaws) January 27, 2015
@GoDaddy the premise of your super bowl commercial is disgusting. You may have ‘adopted’ Buddy afterwards. But the commercial is disgusting.
— Thumper (@jmgroot) January 27, 2015
Just watched @GoDaddy‘s new puppy commercial… wtf is wrong with them? As if we don’t have enough people dumping dogs and backyard breeders
— Pawsitively Pets (@mypawsitivepet) January 27, 2015
I’m moving all of my websites and accounts off @GoDaddy. That commercial is disgusting and you know it’s bad when I’M saying that.
— Chad Darnell (@ChadDarnell) January 27, 2015
If you truly help animal welfare groups, you could make a commercial to educate the public that animals are more than profits. @GoDaddy
— Caroline Boyk (@CarolineDoodles) January 27, 2015
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GoDaddy responded to one complaint on Twitter, saying they made a PSA to show their support for pet adoptions:
@MelissaHudgens the ad we also made a PSA to show our support for adopting rescue dogs: https://t.co/t9L85TtAHO 2/2
— GoDaddy (@GoDaddy) January 27, 2015
They also insisted to folks voicing their intense displeasure online that they adopted Buddy after filming the commercial and he’s “happy as can be.”
@jcandlou7 Don’t be sad! We’ve actually adopted Buddy and he’s happy as can be! I promise. 🙂 https://t.co/bwG2eAm3AO ^Cj
— GoDaddy (@GoDaddy) January 27, 2015
E! News has reached out to GoDaddy for comment regarding the backlash.
Adopt, don’t shop! Go to PetFinder.com to find a shelter near you and give an animal a forever home!
PHOTOS: Stars who adopted their pets!
