Holly Willoughby was joined by Alison Hammond after explaining her usual co-star Phillip Schofield had the week off. During the episode, the pair were joined by guests who were showing off their dogs’ multi-coloured fur. However, despite Holly giving a disclaimer the dye was dog friendly, the RSPCA and viewers of the show were outraged and slammed the segment.
Dog owners Vikki Pearman and Holly Bridden joined the ITV presenters who showcased their business Creative Dog Grooming Championships in 2019.
Before talking to the ladies, Holly explained: “It’s the latest trend taking the dog world by storm as pet owners turn their beloved poodles into beautiful works of art.”
Making a joke of what people were going to say about the segment, she added: “I can almost hear people screaming at their TVs because there will be those that will see those pictures and go ‘This isn’t right, this is cruel’.
“It’s a natural dye, they get tested beforehand. You’ve got dogs that don’t like it, you don’t do it with them.”
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Dr Samantha Gaines, from the RSPCA’s companion animals department, said: “Dogs are living, sentient creatures.
“Dyeing or painting them for our entertainment sends out a worrying message and carries no benefits to the animals themselves.
“Grooming is, without question, an essential part of dog ownership – but these pets should not be treated as novelty accessories.
“We’re worried that subjecting dogs to these types of grooms and parading dogs with novelty hair-dos could encourage some owners to forget that these are intelligent, sentient animals and not gimmicks or toys.
“Furthermore, it risks encouraging other practices which could be detrimental to dogs too; and sets a worrying precedent for how we treat animals in society. Dogs have their own emotions, preferences and needs. Each is an individual with their own personality.
“Yet creative grooming like this has the potential to perpetuate the idea that dogs are objects or toys, and ours to objectify or treat as we see fit.
“Since this segment aired, we’ve received a number of concerned messages from members of the public – reminding us that most dog owners prefer to treat their pets as the intelligent, sentient animals they are.”
Viewers of the show were outraged, with user Ophelia expressing: “How would they like it if someone coloured their hair like those dogs and made them look ridiculous? Just so wrong and cruel #ThisMorning.”
Flopsy fumed: “If you wouldn’t do it on a customers dog why do you think it’s ok to do on your own dog? #ThisMorning.”
@djmcg24 commented: “#ThisMorning What those women are doing to those dogs is just cruel. The dogs don’t get to choose being groomed like that. It’s cruelty.”
@Auntie_Dana stated: “Dogs need to be dogs, I don’t mind grooming or a little extra but this is ridiculous. This can’t help with their interactions with other dogs, as they rely on shapes of their body, fur, ears, eyes & tail reactions. It would make them harder to read each other #ThisMorning.”
@MickJohnPNEFC said: “The dog art segment was disgusting I hope this gets loads of complaints today….#thismorning.” (sic)
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV.
