i have just received this link on facebook and its absolutely disgusting!!!!!! i cant believe they will even torment dogs like this for a tv show!

http://www.itv.com/lifestyle/thismorning/showbiz/christarrant/

I thought I was going to disagree actually... I thought it was going to be something different that would be ok as long got the right dog - but no dog would be happy about that.

But no, I have to agree - and as they talked Chris said that the dogs were biting at the cages and you wondered if they'd get through 'they were totally savage'...

Shame how it seems to make such good TV to torment and wind up dogs. They're meant to be 'man's best friend' and we're supposed to be a nation of animal lovers!

I'm very concerned that the dogs were allowed to become "hungry". (did they mean that these beautiful animals were starved to the point of hunger, or was it that they were simply "ready" for their next meal?)

I'm also deeply concerned that the dogs may have been traumatised by being kept in such small cages, barely the size of an animal carrier in the studio conditions, under filming-lights and being caged up in such close proximity to each other.

Were they tormented or goaded in any way, to cause them to react so strongly?

Did the dogs suffer anxiety with the noise levels? (Knowing how sensitive dogs' hearing can be...)

What an odd thing to do! Though for me bee keeping would be the ultimate torture.

None of the dogs looked aggressive to me, but they did look like they were stressed to be in the situation and were barking and pacing to the reactions around them. One of the labradors looked like it would go to sleep if wasn't for all the noise around it! Reminded me of the experiance of walking through dogs kennels which does not bother me but for people scared of dogs would be horrible, as they are get very barky and jump up at the bars as they want attention, some dogs do react a bit funny in kennels but are great once they are out.

It's a bit strange really, where does the line get crossed? I always think it is cruel on all the creepy crawlies/ rats/ fish they use on some shows but as they are not seen as 'cute' no one really cares :(

What an odd thing to do! Though for me bee keeping would be the ultimate torture.

None of the dogs looked aggressive to me, but they did look like they were stressed to be in the situation and were barking and pacing to the reactions around them. One of the labradors looked like it would go to sleep if wasn't for all the noise around it! Reminded me of the experiance of walking through dogs kennels which does not bother me but for people scared of dogs would be horrible, as they are get very barky and jump up at the bars as they want attention, some dogs do react a bit funny in kennels but are great once they are out.

It's a bit strange really, where does the line get crossed? I always think it is cruel on all the creepy crawlies/ rats/ fish they use on some shows but as they are not seen as 'cute' no one really cares :(

Ah, now, my plan was to contact the RSPCA about this programme, and raise my concerns about the welfare of the dogs, but I was also going to ask them about who was ensuring the welfare of the snakes/ spiders/ scorpions etc that were being kept in those specimen jars. I don't mind snakes, but I'm not keen on Spisers and scorpions and other creepy-crawlies of that ilk... (not that I'd want to see one come to harm...)

What an odd thing to do! Though for me bee keeping would be the ultimate torture.

None of the dogs looked aggressive to me, but they did look like they were stressed to be in the situation and were barking and pacing to the reactions around them. One of the labradors looked like it would go to sleep if wasn't for all the noise around it! Reminded me of the experiance of walking through dogs kennels which does not bother me but for people scared of dogs would be horrible, as they are get very barky and jump up at the bars as they want attention, some dogs do react a bit funny in kennels but are great once they are out.

It's a bit strange really, where does the line get crossed? I always think it is cruel on all the creepy crawlies/ rats/ fish they use on some shows but as they are not seen as 'cute' no one really cares :(

They do, but only a minority and they tend to get laughed at. The rats on Get Me Out Of Here! for example mostly came away with broken backs/limbs after going into the coffins with the celebs and very few people raised any concerns about those :(

Ah, now, my plan was to contact the RSPCA about this programme, and raise my concerns about the welfare of the dogs, but I was also going to ask them about who was ensuring the welfare of the snakes/ spiders/ scorpions etc that were being kept in those specimen jars. I don't mind snakes, but I'm not keen on Spisers and scorpions and other creepy-crawlies of that ilk... (not that I'd want to see one come to harm...)

Spisers? duh, silly me...

Of course, I meant "Spiders"

They do, but only a minority and they tend to get laughed at. The rats on Get Me Out Of Here! for example mostly came away with broken backs/limbs after going into the coffins with the celebs and very few people raised any concerns about those :(

I didn't watch "celeb get me out", (thank goodness) or I may well have raised a complaint about Ithat.

I only heard, on the news, some months ago, now, about something a bit dodgy, about an animal being killed and eaten, unprofessionally, during the programme. A rat, I think it was.

I believe the Australian authorities brought charges against the celebs who did it, and the company for allowing it to happen.

I didn't watch "celeb get me out", (thank goodness) or I may well have raised a complaint about Ithat.

I only heard, on the news, some months ago, now, about something a bit dodgy, about an animal being killed and eaten, unprofessionally, during the programme. A rat, I think it was.

I believe the Australian authorities brought charges against the celebs who did it, and the company for allowing it to happen.

Yes they did PT - it was the italian chef that did it - forgot his name. It was bang out of order.

Yes they did PT - it was the italian chef that did it - forgot his name. It was bang out of order.

I agree with you. I totally will not watch these trash programmes, but the story was on the news and I was appalled at what had happened.

Whatever happened to things happening like in American films, where the American Humane Society, or whatever it's called, oversees the treatment of the animals in the film, and a certificate is displayed on the end of the film/ programme, which declares that the welfare of the animals was overseen and that no animal was harmed in the making of the film. ?

Yes they did PT - it was the italian chef that did it - forgot his name. It was bang out of order.

To add, the animal may only have been smallish, not cutesy and fluffy like a kitty or a puppy, but it is still capable of feeling pain. (I would not like to have thought that my {sadly now deceased} pet rats could have been treated that way...)

******UPDATE******


The program The Door airs tomorrow night at 9pm on ITV.
There is a clear section 4 offence being committed as laid out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Can we all get on the phones to all major newspapers tomorrow and tell them to get on the case and get this program taken off air and the persons responsible for this cruelty prosecuted.

Don't forget that this week, a woman was fined £1000 for selling a goldfish:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1262676/RICHARD-LITTLEJOHN-If-justice-Im-goldfish.html

Animal Welfare Act 2006

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/pdf/ukpga_20060045_en.pdf

4 Unnecessary suffering
(1) A person commits an offence if—
(a) an act of his, or a failure of his to act, causes an animal to suffer,
(b) he knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that the act, or failure to act, would have that effect or be likely to do so,
(c) the animal is a protected animal, and
(d) the suffering is unnecessary.
(2) A person commits an offence if—
(a) he is responsible for an animal,
(b) an act, or failure to act, of another person causes the animal to suffer,
(c) he permitted that to happen or failed to take such steps (whether by way of supervising the other person or otherwise) as were reasonable in all the circumstances to prevent that happening, and
(d) the suffering is unnecessary.
(3) The considerations to which it is relevant to have regard when determining for the purposes of this section whether suffering is unnecessary include—
(a) whether the suffering could reasonably have been avoided or reduced;
(b) whether the conduct which caused the suffering was in compliance with any relevant enactment or any relevant provisions of a licence or code of practice issued under an enactment;
(c) whether the conduct which caused the suffering was for a legitimate purpose, such as—
(i) the purpose of benefiting the animal, or
(ii) the purpose of protecting a person, property or another animal;
(d) whether the suffering was proportionate to the purpose of the conduct concerned;
(e) whether the conduct concerned was in all the circumstances that of a reasonably competent and humane person.


Let's not let them get away with this.

Totally agree, it's disgusting. I will be sending an email to ITV in protest, for anyone else wanting to do the same the contact details are:

ITV contact details Address ITV Viewer Services, ITV plc, Gas Street, Birmingham, B1 2JT
Email viewerservices@itv.com
Phone 0844 88 14150

I'm not sure how I feel about this, but the dogs do actually look quite happy to me. They're all bright, alert and tails are all wagging. From my, limited, experience of dealing with dogs, a scared/anxious/upset dog would generally cower in a corner with its tail well and truly between its legs and ears quite flat to the head, which none of these dogs are doing.

thought it was starting tonight?.

this is the email I have put together for ITV about this:-

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to raise my very grave concerns about the welfare of the animals used in the programme "The Door" which is to be transmitted tonight and tomorrow, 2nd and 3rd April 2010.

I am concerned that the animals seem to be being placed in traumatising and dangerous conditions just for entertainment value.

I am concerned about the scene where there are dogs, caged, screaming and barking, whilst the "celebrity" crawls through a maze between the dogs' cages.

I'm concerned about the heat in the studio being bad for the dogs, I'm concerned about the dogs being confined in horrid, small cages, and being wound up into a frenzy. The noise levels must surely be bad for their sensitive hearing, and I'm worried about the distress caused, and the psychological effect on the dogs of being caged together, in such proximity, in such dire, and unnatural surroundings.

I would like to know who authorised such treatment? I'd also like to know if the RSPCA were consulted about this stunt, and whether due consideration was given about whether the welfare of the dogs was overseen by someone in a professional capacity?

I am also concerned about the other animals in the "key- game" section of the programme, as shown in the clips advertising this "event" on the "This Morning" programme, the other day:- the spiders, the scorpions, snakes etc... they were being kept in specimen jars, under studio lights, which I don't believe is the healthiest environment at all for them to be in. I was also concerned about how these snakes and invertebrates were to be kept safe from injury or other trauma during their time on the programme.

The "celebrities" could have injured the Invertebrates, whilst trying to get the keys out of the jars in which those Invertebrates were being kept, had they begun to flail their hands about in panic.

They may only be "Invertebrates" to some, and of little consequence as such, but these animals are still capable of having pain and injury inflicted on them, I do not think that it is right that these animals and invertebrtates were treated in this way, purely for entertainment value. I am saddened and angry that the animals were put in completely unnecessary danger.

I do not think that animals being distressed, for the sake of TV can at all be classified as "entertainment".

I would like to know who was the overseer of the animals' safety, and from what professional organisation. In the United States, the credits, at the end of the programme which has used any animal or animals, has a section that will state that the animals were overseen by the American Humane society and that "no animal was harmed in the making of the programme...". I would like to see such assurances for British TV in future.



Yours Faithfully

I'm not sure how I feel about this, but the dogs do actually look quite happy to me. They're all bright, alert and tails are all wagging. From my, limited, experience of dealing with dogs, a scared/anxious/upset dog would generally cower in a corner with its tail well and truly between its legs and ears quite flat to the head, which none of these dogs are doing.

I would imagine that the other dogs barking would put another dog on "high alert", and cause stress for the dog or dogs involved. Both at the volume and the seeming tormenting of the dogs as the celebs crawled through the maze.

Such a constant state of arousal could be harmful to the dogs

Having watched the clip again, I will be emailing but I'll be emailing questions - not a complaint.

I noted that whilst some of the dogs did appear distressed (yes tails wagging but that doesn't mean they're happy), in actual fact, some of them seemed quite calm and when the celebrity left the maze, a few sat down quietly.

I would be interested to know who's dogs they are and if they are properly prepped for this situation. What preparation they have had to deal with it and if, indeed they were 'hungry' and 'savage' as described.

I did note that most of their ears appeared to be pricked forwards whereas distressed dogs, whilst wagging their tail would put their ears flat, however hackles were certainly raised and there is a question of potential injury to the dogs when they are scrabbling at the wire cages and biting the wire, as Chris Tarrant confirmed they were.

Overall, a stunt that isn't necessary and could potentially cause not only emotional harm, but also physical harm to the dogs but I need to know more.

I will be emailing complaining, i am not very good at writing letters but i still will voice my concerns, it makes me feel sick at what they are allowed to do :( i dont watch that program in the jungle but i have seen clips on adverts and that disgusts me too, those poor little animals and bugs its not fair they class this as entertainment :(

isn't it all just suppost to be taken as a bit of fun, im sure the dogs are well looked after :)

isn't it all just suppost to be taken as a bit of fun, im sure the dogs are well looked after :)

Fun? dogs being crammed in together, in a confined space, in the heat and stress of a film studio? and then agitated into screaming and barking?

Erm, NO. Not "fun" in my book.

Invertebrates in potential danger of being harmed just for the sake of titillation? No, again, I don't consider it fun.

isn't it all just suppost to be taken as a bit of fun, im sure the dogs are well looked after :)

Physical welfare aside, crap like this serves to encourage ideas that dogs are a "hard accessory" of people to own. "I'm not packing but I've got a staffy".

Quite apart from the fact that Tarrant's patronising mug ought to be mauled.