GoDaddy Buddy (Photo : Twitter)
Website hosting firm GoDaddy stopped the airing of its 2015 Super Bowl commercial after animal rights activists criticized the short ad.
The commercial titled "Journey Home" featured a little puppy named Buddy who travelled a long way to home after accidentally falling out of a truck, but was instantly sold by its owners via a GoDaddy website.
Hours after the Super Bowl commercial was released online on YouTube, animal lovers have denounced the ad, saying that it promotes buying from puppy mills and online selling of pets, Mashable reported. Most of the pets sold from puppy farms end up in overly-crowded shelters.
Around 42,000 supporters have signed a change.org petition asking GoDaddy's Super Bowl spot to be removed. The petition said that the ad was offensive, whether it was "meant to be satirical."
Animal welfare organization SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) tweeted about the ad, saying that it is likely "supporting inhumane breeding" with the hashtag #GoDaddyPuppy.
The Chief Executive Officer of GoDaddy, Blake Irving, responded to the SPCA's tweet, saying that they will not air the Super Bowl commercial anymore.
Additionally, GoDaddy posted a statement on their website saying that they are pulling the commercial. They also clarified that Buddy came from a reputable breeder located in California. Buddy is now the Chief Companion Officer of GoDaddy and has been adopted since by one of the firm's employees.
GoDaddy's commercial was intended to strike at Budweiser's Super Bowl ad teaser, which also featured a puppy, USA Today reported.
