Hartlepool dog owner gathers 180,000 signatures on petition to scrap BBC dog breeding show 'Will My Puppies Make Me Rich?'

The BBC Three programme follows young dog breeders as they try to build businesses breeding designer canines and make them reputable.

But the show has sparked controversy amongst dog owners and animal organisations who have urged the BBC to drop the project.

Elizabeth Boyd, 31, works in animal welfare and felt that she needed to do something to prevent the show going ahead and raise awareness of animal welfare issues around dog breeding.

She started an online petition asking the BBC to stop producing the new programme, which has gathered almost 180,000 signatures in just five days.

Elizabeth, who now lives in the Midlands, said: “With thousands of dogs sitting in shelters, a programme advertising dog breeding is the last thing we need.

"Dogs are not commodities. There are irresponsible people out there who will watch the show and see it as an easy way to make money.

"I have seen how horrendous it can be for dogs that are solely for breeding.

"Their conditions can be extremely poor, dogs can be constantly pregnant and puppies may not be taken care of properly.”

Elizabeth, who owns two rescue chihuahua dogs called Sid and Pickle, added that often dogs are bred to have certain aesthetics but that this can lead to the animal having long term health problems such as extreme breathing difficulties.

She said: “I would be incredibly frustrated if the BBC choose to still go ahead with the show in its current format after the experts and a lot of the public have warned them against the huge negative impact it will have on animal welfare.”

Celebrities including Paul O’Grady have also slammed the show, with the star taking to Instagram to say: “This kind of **** only encourages puppy farming and I only hope that the BBC come to their senses and take it off air immediately.”

Following the backlash to the programme the BBC said in a statement that the show is not ‘about encouraging people to get into breeding’ and not ‘an attempt to glamorise breeding’.

The broadcaster also stressed that the title of the show is a ‘working title’ which has now been changed to ‘Britain’s Puppy Boom: Counting the Cost’.

In a statement on the programme the BBC said: “It will be a film underpinned by sound journalism, providing a balanced exploration of why more young people have become interested in turning their passion for dogs into a profession, done responsibly, as well as understanding the wider negative impacts of the rise in demand for dogs. It will not be a ‘how to’ guide.

"It is not about encouraging people to get into breeding. Nor is it an attempt to glamorise breeding.

“The welfare of animals is of the utmost importance and this programme will follow young individuals that are already responsibly breeding or are training to become accredited in order to highlight what constitutes best practice.”

The BBC said the show will now be developed and made in accordance with BBC Editorial Guidelines and the production team will research and consult widely within the industry.

To sign the petition click here.

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