By
PETA is giving DisneyтАЩs тАЬCruellaтАЭ two paws up after the film responded to the organizationтАЩs requests to encourage viewers to adopt a dog instead of visiting a pet shop.
When the trailer for the тАЬ101 DalmationsтАЭ-inspired live-action film тАФ starring Emma Stone as villainous Cruella De Vil тАФ dropped in February, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued a statement recalling how DisneyтАЩs 1996 live-action remake of the animated тАЬ101 DalmationsтАЭ led to a massive uptick of people bringing Dalmation puppies into their homes, only to ditch them at shelters when they grew older, typically because that particular breed is notoriously strong-willed and difficult to train.
RELATED: Emma Stone Is An Edgy Cruella De Vil In First тАШCruellaтАЩ Trailer
тАЬNo character spotlights the cruelty of wearing fur or skinning dogs better than Cruella, but PETAтАЩs praise will be on paws until Disney takes steps to stop a repeat of 1996, when animal shelters were flooded with Dalmatians reportedly bought and discarded by тАШ101 DalmatiansтАЩ fans who werenтАЩt prepared for the puppies to grow up,тАЭ said PETA senior vice president Lisa Lange in a statement at the time.
тАЬThe devil is in the details, and Cruella must remind viewers that animals are individuals тАФ not accessories тАФ and to adopt them,тАЭ she added.
Following PETAтАЩs statement, Disney acquiesced by placing a disclaimer during the filmтАЩs credits, reading, тАЬEvery dog deserves a loving home. If youтАЩre ready for the commitment of pet ownership, please consider visiting your local animal rescue to find the right pet for you.тАЭ
Lange responded with another statement. тАЬTalk about a Disney ending!тАЭ she said. тАЬWhen PETA heard that тАШCruellaтАЩ was in the works, we reminded the House of Mouse that animal shelters were flooded with Dalmatians reportedly bought and discarded by тАШ101 DalmatiansтАЩ fans 25 years ago. We urged the studio to add an тАШadopt, donтАЩt shopтАЩ disclaimer, so weтАЩre howling with joy to see DisneyтАЩs on-screen message encouraging viewers to give dogs in shelters their happily ever after.тАЭ