Los Angeles Times

METRO

BURBANK, August 28— At a press conference attended by a half-dozen rescued Dalmatians and organized by In Defense of Animals & 21^st Century Cares, animal activists walked to the gates of Walt Disney Studios with a request for Eisner: use the vast resources of Disney to educate the public not to rush out and buy puppies and contribute 1% of the sales from Dalmatian-spotted trinkets to a humane fund for rescued Dalmatians.  Dalmatian rescuers asked for a statement at the beginning of the movie that would discourage impulse buying.   

Disney executives were challenged by animal activists to help the spotted dog breed that inspired the 102 Dalmatians sequel due out in Thanksgiving.  To avoid the impulse buying of Dalmatian puppies that followed the previous films, the 14-year-old president of ‘Love All Animals traveled from Kentucky to publicly ask Disney President Michael Eisner to “bring the magic back to the Magic Kingdom” by donating some of its profits to help rescuers save Dalmatian lives.  “How could you possibly allow this to continue,” Ryan Cortade, the 14-year-old president of the youth organization Love All Animals publicly asked Disney President Michael Eisner.   

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The activists staged the press conference to get help from the studio to avoid a repeat of the puppy glut that followed previous releases of 101 Dalmatian movies.  Following previous Dalmatian movies, parents eager to please their young children rushed to buy puppies after seeing the movie, only to abandon the dogs to shelters months later when they got too big or unruly. 

Disney said no action would be taken by the studio until after the Labor Day holiday.  “Disney has not remained honest nor forthcoming with us so far,”explained event organizer Randy Warner.  Although he tried to begin discussions with Disney months ago, Disney failed to do anything to address the problem. 

“Time is of the essence,” Warner wrote in his letter to Eisner, hoping the Disney company would make a public plea to discourage Dalmatian owners from breeding to capitalize on the anticipated popularity of the film.  “Now is the time for Disney to step up to the plate,” he said. 

“As rescuers, we know that immediately after the release of the film, shelter Dalmatians will increase 100 fold.  For every four animals that enter the shelter, only one comes out,” said the Amanda Foundation’s Austin.

Bill Dyer, of the organization In Defense of Animals, asked Disney to “take responsibility” for the Dalmatians bred, bought and then abandoned to shelters as a result of the company’s films by setting up a rescue fund. 

Warner brought a deaf rescued Dalmatian, Charley, to the press conference to demonstrate the type of dogs that are abandoned as a result of over breeding and impulse buying. Warner noted that there have been some 17,500 Dalmatian-movie merchandise items licensed by Disney, from stuffed toys and games to watches, sweaters, shoes and a $5,000 diamond and gold pen.  “They’ve made a fortune off these animals, but they have not taken any responsibility for the abandoned animals,  But, oddly enough they have been very responsible for marketing this for their pocketbook in a near perfect campaign,” said Warner.  “It’s what they are famous for, but there are backlashes they need to address as well. I just hope they will take us into consideration in an honest fashion this time”.

Disney said it will be working with an undisclosed humane organization on an unspecified mitigation effort.  Meanwhile, an organization whose proposal to Disney had been rebuffed is consulting with attorneys to investigate ways to compel the influential studio to take responsibility for the impact the film is expected to have on the Dalmatian population, ValleyPetNews.com has learned.

Andrea Marozas, vice president for corporate communications for Walt Disney Studios, said the company takes the problem “very, very seriously.”  She stated that Disney could not reveal what “national organization” would be partnered because the group had not yet been contacted.    “The window of opportunity to discourage breeders and educate the public is closing,  We are certain they have simply bulldozed us off to the side.” Warner said.

Marozas’ comments about acting “early” were criticized by Warner, who also operates 21^st Century Animal Resource and Education Services in Riverside County, who noted that during negotiations for the release of “101 Dalmatians” in 1996, Disney lead us along for months and ultimately broke all promises to have some form of message anywhere on the screen before or after the movie. Reports indicate that 125 female Dalmatians were bred to supply some 600 puppies used in filming the live-action portions of the 101 Dalmatian film.  Maroza could not confirm how many puppies were used in the live-action portions of 102 Dalmatians, which also includes computer animation.  She had no details as to who supplied the puppies or what happened to them after filming.

Marozas argues that Disney is not in the business of education, but of entertainment.  They take pride on the degree of educational materials they make available to anyone who asks

“That is the problem,” Warner said.  Nobody is going to ask for educational material based on watching a cute movie. And if they did, it woudlnt’ be through Disney.  If they simply put a short 30 second piece  at the beginning explaining that these dogs were highly trained, and had the options of countless retakes.  Dalamtians need an extra amount of attention and may not be best for your family.  Then give some stats and enjoy the movie.”.

The Disney Company announced late today they would be working closely with the Dalmatian Breeder’s Association to curb the impulse buying of the dogs.  When contacted later, Warner was quick to show disgust. “The Dalmatian Breeders’ club, although respectable, makes their money from the sale of Dalmatians. They will allow Disney to go with ANY plan that helps promote the breed. They will not help educate the public to curb the impulse sales that sent thousands of innocent dalamatians to their demise after the last release.  This is the equivalent of Larry Flint and Hugh Heffner crawling into bed together to decide our childrens’ morals!” Warner Claimed.

Dalmatian rescuers said they are consulting with attorneys to consider filing legal action based on alleged Disney misrepresentations leading back to the release of 101 Dalmatians.  Warner had been assured by the office of Michael Eisner, president of Disney, that the first film would contain a disclaimer at the beginning of the film, but it did not.