Nottingham Dog Is Finalist In PETA’S ‘Cutest Mutt In The Uk’ Contest

For Immediate Release:
10 March 2010

Contact:
Sam Glover 020 7357 9229, ext 229; [email protected]

Nottingham – Just a day before the Kennel Club’s Crufts dog show begins, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is announcing the top 10 finalists out of thousands of entrants in an online competition to find the cutest mixed-breed rescue dog in the UK. The competition showcases just how beautiful, healthy and good-natured mixed-breed dogs can be, and 5-year-old Ben from Nottingham is a top contender for the title.

Ben has lived with his guardian, David Calladine, 65, since the mixed-breed rescue dog was 6 months old. Ben was rehomed after a friend of David’s saw the dog being beaten on the street and took him in. Luckily, David’s friend already had five dogs to look after, so David gladly welcomed Ben into his own home. Ben has a mischievous streak and enjoys lazing around the house, and David wouldn’t want to be without him.

“David adopted Ben to give the mixed-breed dog the best life possible, and Ben has given David deep affection in return”, says PETA’s Poorva Joshipura. “Ben found a loving home, and David found a devoted and loyal companion.”

PETA’s competition highlights the fact that mixed-breed dogs – besides being lovable individuals – don’t face the range of health problems and genetic defects that pedigree dogs often endure. As a result of being purposely bred for certain unnatural and exaggerated physical traits, pedigree dogs have high rates of epilepsy, heart disease, hip dysplasia and other health problems. PETA also points out that every time a dog is purchased from a breeder, a homeless dog loses the chance to find a loving home and must be euthanised or left to languish in an animal shelter.

The cutest mutt and two runners-up will be chosen and announced on 30 March on the popular website PETA.org.uk. These three “top dogs” will also be featured in PETA’s Animal Times magazine and will receive a selection of doggie delights.