BBC changes working title of controversial dog breeding documentary after backlash
Corporation also condemned personal attacks that have been directed towards programme makers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The BBC has changed the working title of its controversial documentary about dog breeding, after an online backlash and a petition to stop it from airing.
The programme – originally titled Will My Puppies Make Me Rich? – will follow young dog breeders as they try to build their businesses and make them reputable.
Since the documentary was announced, an online petition to stop its release has been set up and, at the time of writing, has acquired more than 176,000 signatures. The RSPCA also expressed concern it could “encourage and glamorise breeding”.
After defending the programme, the BBC has now said the documentary is going under the working title Britain’s Puppy Boom: Counting the Cost, as the broadcaster believes “that title makes clearer the BBC’s and the programmes intentions”.
The BBC said: “A lot has been said and written online about this future programme. If the BBC were making a programme about how to exploit animals for profit, then that would be a cause for concern. The reality is rather different. The BBC is not making such a programme and never intended to.”
The statement added that the film will be “underpinned by sound journalism” and will look at “the wider negative impacts of the rise in demand for dogs”.
It said that the “BBC condemns the personal attacks that have been directed towards the young women who pitched the idea of the documentary”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments