Will a British TV show about the possible dangers of dog breeding set off
the cultural controversy here that it did in the U.K.?

When "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" first aired on the BBC in August 2008, the
film's depiction of the extreme health problems suffered by some pedigreed
dogs caused a national outrage. In fact, the BBC felt so strongly about its
own documentary that, bucking tradition, it refused to air the annual
Crufts dog competition, which is as prestigious in Britain as the
Westminster or National Dog Show is in the U.S.

Stateside, BBC America premiered the program on Thursday.  Copy & paste
this link to see the show (CAUTION: May be hard to watch!)

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=44215931

"Pedigree Dogs Exposed" puts forth interviews and at times disturbing
footage about dog breeding that suggest it is an immoral and unethical
practice. Featured in the documentary is Sylvia, a Cavalier King Charles
Spaniel that according to the film suffers from Syringomyelia, meaning her
skull does not sufficiently fit her brain. The documentary states that
Syringomyelia is described in humans as "one of the most painful conditions
you can have, a burning pain, a piston-type headache, so that even light
touch, even items of clothing can induce discomfort for these animals." 

At the start of the program, a narrator states, "This film reveals, for the
very first time, the extent of health and welfare problems in pedigree
dogs. Later on, a talking-head interviewee says, "People love these
animals. It's like seeing a close relative falling apart. In many ways I
think that's just criminal."




Documentary - BBC - Pedigree Dogs Exposed

Copy & Paste this link:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=44215931