Skechers Super Bowl ad: a sneaker peek
Skechers has released a sneak preview of its upcoming Super Bowl ad, filmed at a greyhound racing park.
“Get a first look at Mr. Quiggly, the tiny French Bulldog with the heart of a champion, in his SKECHERS GOrun 2012 Big Game commercial,” a publicist for the company wrote in an email. “How will Quiggly find an edge to help him race on Game Day? Watch the preview to see his secret weapon in action!”
Meanwhile, the anti-greyhound racing group Grey2KUSA continues to fire away with its own not-so-secret weapon — a boycott of the shoe company, with protest rallies being held this weekend across the country.
Grey2KUSA says the ad glorifies a sport that is harmful to greyhounds, and points out that it was filmed at one of the country’s most injury-plagued greyhound parks.
Skechers vaguely refers to the “controversy” over the ad in its email: “There has been a lot of talk about Skechers’ new commercial… With a four-legged celebrity taking center stage this year, the campaign has definitely stirred up some controversy, but Skechers believes the spirit of the ‘underdog’ will be a big winner on Game Day.”
In the ad, filmed at Tucson Greyhound Park, a Skechers-wearing French bulldog outraces a group of greyhounds. The ad also features billionaire technology mogul and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.
The ad will be aired during the Super Bowl on February 5.
Grey2K coordinated a series of protests this weekend, all held in front of Skechers stores and other outlets at which the shoes are sold.
“No Skechers” events were scheduled this weekend in Tucson, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, Boston, Albuquerque, Salt Lake City and at locations in Florida, Colorado and Michigan.
“Tucson Greyhound Park’s greyhounds are kept confined in small cages which are barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around. They are fed raw 4-D meat, the meat of downed, diseased, disabled or dead livestock. These conditions were documented in recent inspections by Pima County investigators and by a GREY2K USA undercover video first released in 2010,” the organization says.
Additionally, the state of Arizona documented nearly 1,000 injuries in the last reported years of 2007- 2009, including broken legs, sprains, dislocations, muscle tears and strains, lacerations, a cracked skull, broken backs, heat stroke, puncture wounds and paralysis.
“Instead of promoting such cruelty, companies should be asking for it to end,” Grey2K says.
More information can be found at boycottskechers.org.
Posted by jwoestendiek January 29th, 2012 under Muttsblog.
Tags: advertising, animals, boycott, commercials, conditions, cruelty to animals, demonstrations, dog, dogs, dogs in advertising, french bulldog, grey2kusa, greyhound racing, greyhounds, injuries, mr quiggly, pets, protest, quiggly, skechers, super bowl, tucson greyhound park, woof in advertising
Comments
Comment from Carrie Bryan Atkins
Time January 30, 2012 at 2:35 am
The Skechers ad could make a world of difference to greyhounds, but not in the way Grey@K warns us about. The nationwide exposure of the breed during one of the most-watched commercials of the year will bring the image of the greyhound into millions of homes. Some of those millions of people will decide to adopt a retired racing greyhound, and that WILL make a positive impact in the lives of these spectacular athletes once they retire.
Comment from Val
Time January 30, 2012 at 7:03 pm
It is unconscionable that Skechers would shoot an ad at this notorious dog track where hundreds of dogs live lives of confinement and suffer injuries on the track.
At Tucson Greyhound Park, greyhounds are kept confined in small cages which are barely large enough for them to stand up or turn around. They are fed raw 4-D meat, the meat of downed, diseased, disabled or dead livestock. This was documented in a recent video investigation.
While racing, greyhounds face the risk of serious injury. According to state records, between January 2007 and November 2009, nearly 1,000 greyhound injuries were reported at Arizona racetracks. The most common injury was a broken leg, and other reported injuries included fractures, sprains, dislocations, muscle tears and strains, lacerations, a cracked skull, broken backs, heat stroke, puncture wounds and paralysis. To learn more, please see our full report and video at http://www.grey2kusa.org.
Val Wolf, Board Member GREY2K USA
Comment from Eric Jackson
Time January 30, 2012 at 8:17 pm
Claire, what has GREY2K USA said that is inaccurate? The conditions these dogs are kept in is cruel and inhumane. No animal should be kept in a cage that small for that length of time. And too many greyhounds never leave the track alive, killed on the track or killed because they have a career-ending injury. It’s time to put a stop to this nasty industry. And I’m saying that with our four greyhounds scattered around the house, including three who came from tracks.
Comment from Eric Jackson
Time January 30, 2012 at 8:18 pm
Carrie, I too hope this commercial will benefit greyhounds, but I think the French bulldog will be the one getting most, if not all, of the attention. Once again, the greyhounds are likely to get the short end of this deal.
Comment from Mahalo
Time January 31, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Claire: You must not live in Tucson, or you would know that Tucson Greyhound Park is the worst in the nation. The dogs come to the rescue groups in pretty bad shape. How can you love your greyhound when you know so many in the deplorable racing industry are so abused!?
Comment from Issis
Time January 31, 2012 at 10:59 pm
If you plan to watch the Superbowl … remember Sketchers sucks … the jerks have used the most notorious greyhound misery track in the nation (Tucson) to create an ad they claim will appeal to “underdogs” … The dirty dogs are Skietchers and their oh so rich backer (wonder how many taxes he pays?) Mark Cuben.
I was living in Phoenix when several notorious exposes of Greyhound racing were came to light … with hundreds found bludgeoned or shot to death and their bodies dumped in the desert … a cheap way to get rid of dogs that did not make enough money for their exploiters. A pox on all their houses. And shame on the rich underbellies who promote Greyhound racing and ads such as Sketchers that perpetrate the lie that greyhound racing is glamorous and entertaining … I hope those who watch the Superbowl are not taken in … Sketchers deserves to go down.
Comment from Lyme
Time February 1, 2012 at 1:45 am
How fortunate for you, Claire, to never have seen any neglect or abuse. Me, I’ve had two greyhounds. I could count the numerous scars earned while racing on them, if you like. There’s probably half a dozen on each. That doesn’t even get into the emotional and mental abuse these dogs went through.
I could tell you about the horrible treatment my first greyhound underwent out at the tracks, including getting numerous tick-borne diseases, the accidental litter of puppies – all of which were too screwed up (thanks to the hormones injected into their mother, not to mention the terrible living conditions and food that she recieved) to be adopted out to normal homes.
I could mention how my second greyhound had his tail horribly broken while racing and it was never properly treated, so now the bottom half shoots off at a 40 degree angle from the top half. Or how he apparently suffered so much abuse that even years after I adopted him, he’s still terrified of certain noises and the sight of a broom.
Or I could mention some of the other greyhounds of people I know. Like the woman who fostered one that came off the track emaciated and with permanent marks where the hair won’t grow any more – the result of being cooped up in a tiny cage for 20-some hours a day. It’s always nice when your dog comes with a grid pattern always emblazoned on its body.
How about another greyhound owner from the dog park I frequent? Her greyhound was used for breeding for nearly 6 years after her racing career. At one point, the poor dog was so terrified of being locked in its tiny cage that it tried to chew its way out – resulting in many broken teeth.
Yeah, greyhound racing is so great. That’s why the dogs are chewing through metal cages to get away from it.
Of COURSE you’re not seeing the abuse. Do you think they are going to show that off to visitors? Just because you claim to not have seen it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. There are dozens of greyhound rescue groups across the country who can attest to the horrors they’ve seen inflicted on these dogs.
Comment from Claire
Time January 29, 2012 at 9:27 pm
It is a shame that G2K is allowed to promote such inaccurate information. I have been adopting greyhounds since 1998. I have been to the track to pick up dogs, been to the puppy farms, been to the schooling races. I have not seen any neglect or abuse. I applaud Skechers for the greyhound ad. I look forward to watching the entire ad, with my retired racer on my left and my current foster racer on my right.