PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Tell Harvey Nichols: Dogs Aren't Accessories
  1. Signatures
    650 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. Harvey Nichols Customer Service (+ 2 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Harvey Nichols Customer Service
      • Senior Press Officer (Victoria Meekings)
      • Chairman (Dickson Poon)
  2. Created By
    Stephanie Feldstein
    Ypsilanti, MI
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Harvey Nichols, a luxury department store in the U.K., created a Christmas commercial called "The Fashionista's Must Have Accessory."

It starts with a woman modeling shoes in front of a mirror, with a black and white long-haired Chihuahua beside her. She asks, "Do you have any other colors?" and the salesperson replaces her dog. Then we see puppies with price tags, a woman comparing two dogs as if they're handbags, dogs in cases, dogs being wrapped, etc.

The commercial ends with the slogan: "Harvey Nichols, Not Just for Christmas," a riff off the well-known slogan, "A Dog is for Life, Not Just for Christmas," from Dogs Trust, the largest dog welfare charity in the U.K.

Dogs Trust was unimpressed, saying that they were disappointed and "wrapping up dogs with bows and gift tags for humour's sake is in poor taste."

A press release from the company assured people that the video is a satire and Harvey Nichols does not sell animals or condone animals as accessories. But the problem is that many people do see animals as accessories, or buy them as impulse holiday gifts only to dump them a couple weeks or months later when the novelty wears off. The Harvey Nichols commercial is basically an ad for puppy mills.

If the company wants to support Dogs Trust's message, this commercial isn't the way to do it. Dogs Trust has contacted Harvey Nichols about the ad, but the department store should hear from consumers, too. Tell the company to pull the ad and issue an apology to Dogs Trust and animal advocates everywhere.

Recent Signatures

Please Apologize for Fashionista's Must Have Accessory

Greetings,

I recently learned about the Harvey Nichols Christmas commercial featuring dogs as accessories. While I understand that this was meant to be funny, the harsh reality is that may people do treat dogs as accessories and purchase them as gifts for the holidays, only to abandon them at the shelter a couple weeks or months later when the novelty wears off. In addition, showcasing small, purebred dogs as fashionable only serves to feed the puppy mill industry. Harvey Nichols may not sell puppies, but as you know, many other stores do and the holidays are their busiest season, too.

In ripping off Dogs Trust's "Not Just for Christmas" slogan, Harvey Nichols also undermined the work of people trying to educate the public on the lifetime commitment of a pet. If your company truly supports the charity's message, then Harvey Nichols will pull the commercial and issue an apology to Dogs Trust and animal advocates everywhere who were offended by the poor taste of your commercial showcasing dogs as fashion accessories.

I look forward to your reply.

[Your name]

Press Inquiries