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  • From: Josh Greenman <joshg1973 AT yahoo.com>
  • To: monkeywire AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [monkeywire] Ads pulled after claims of chimp abuse
  • Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2005 00:25:58 -0400

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/Stories/ 0,1413,207~12041~2944605,00.html
Ads pulled after claims of chimp abuse

By Robert Iafolla
Correspondent

Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - HomeUSA Warehouse canceled a recent advertising campaign featuring a chimpanzee after the company learned that the animals are often beaten behind the scenes, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said.

PETA informed the Pasadena- based furniture and mattress retailer of the abusive treatment, and the company promptly pulled its television ads, circulars and Web site promotions that featured a chimp in a HomeUSA T-shirt and a diaper, said Amy Rhodes, the supervisor for PETA's animals in entertainment program.

"Not only is [using chimpanzees] principally, fundamentally and ethically wrong, but it's also unwise,' Brett Stansbury, vice president of operations for HomeUSA Warehouse, said in a written statement.

Advertising companies do not abuse chimpanzees, but the trainers who prepare the animals do, Rhodes said.

"There is no way to get a chimpanzee to be obedient enough to perform on set in a timely fashion without dominating it, both physically and psychologically, beforehand,' said Doris Day Animal Foundation spokeswoman Liz Ross.

During a 14-month undercover investigation of a Malibu-based chimpanzee trainer, animal- rights advocate Sarah Baeckler said she witnessed abusive training techniques first-hand.

"I saw repeated punching, kicking and hitting with broom handles and metal pipes,' Baeckler said.

Other companies, including Honda Motor Co., have pulled advertising that featured orangutans and chimpanzees after learning of abusive training, Rhodes said.

"Often it's just a matter of educating companies and telling them what they see on the set is not the whole story,' Baeckler said.

However, Anhueser- Busch, 3M Co., CareerBuilder.com and Austin Telco Federal Credit Union continue to use commercials with great apes despite pressure from PETA, Rhodes said.

Robert Iafolla can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2393, or by e- mail at svintern AT sgvn.com .



  • [monkeywire] Ads pulled after claims of chimp abuse, Josh Greenman, 07/01/2005

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