today as I was leaving the subway station near my house, I noticed that it was new ad day. One of the ads is vertical with three objects
a roll of duct tape
a jug of gasoline
a cute cat
and at the bottom “whatever you can imagine, we’ve seen worse” and the ASCPA logo in the corner.
are they just TRYING to give kids ideas??? Knowing typical subway ad tactics, there are probably 5 similar ads, but with different objects, animals and ideas throughout the city.
So, you’re saying that this ASPCA ad is going to make kids go out and set fire to cats?
That’s an… interesting point of view.
Because kids these days are too stupid to think things up themselves, right? Of course not.
My first dog was rescued by my grandfather. He was a puppy and some 12 year old boys were sticking lighted firecrakers up his ass. They thought that shit up all by themselves. So the ASPCA is showing people like you what sick bastards already know. I cannot believe you are surprised.
Those evil bastards even have the phrase “Cruelty to Animals” right in their organization’s name.
God alone knows have many nascent serial killers had little light bulbs go on over their heads the first time they saw that.
I blame Tom Ridge.
I don’t like the ad because it makes me think of duct-taped kittens on fire, which makes me feel sad and sick and NOT thinking “gee I should give money to the ASPCA”.
Did you see the new ones? Duct Tape, Hampster, Astroglide.
I’m thinking they wanted people be sad and sick over the thought of duct-taped kittens on fire and then give them money to prevent such things from happening.
But really, do they have Cruelty Police that stops mean little boys from sticking firecrackers up puppies’ butts?
Very good, Paul. 
As for the OP. That’s probably one of the least over-the-top ads I’ve seen from them and PETA. From what it sounds like, seems pretty tame, but at the same time very disturbing. A pretty good balance for the message they’re trying to get out.
The thing that gets my knee-jerk anger at these orginizations going is the fact that (especially PETA, but the SPCA is catching up) they take a perfectly good and just concept, and twist is so hard as to make it a joke of itself. But this ad, again, seems pretty tame if it’s what I’m picturing.
I saw on of these but I didn’t see the ASPCA logo. I just saw the slogan and a Brick, a canvas bag and a puppy. I was a little confused but the train was leaving.
I don’t know how effective these type of shock ads are - every time the abused animal commercial comes on tv, I can’t change the channel fast enough to not see these very upsetting pictures. The Humane Society is one of the charities I already support, so I’m not sure they’re spending their advertising dollars wisely. What would be more effective? Maybe public education campaigns - there’s still a lot of misinformation and misguided thinking out there about animal health, spaying, back yard breeders, etc.
Yes, they do, as featured on shows like Animal Precinct and the various Animal Cops shows.
… particularly since, if you give them money, they might spend it on more ads (the ads are working, after all…)…
I’m reminded of a Rich Hall gag (possibly as Otis Lee Crenshaw), about the clientele of 24-hour supermarkets:
You don’t actually see horrible animal cruelty. Just tape, matches and a cat. Any upsetting pictures are all in your head. I’d say these ads are very effective.
In addition to animal control, they offer AnimaLessons, humane education programs designed to prevent children from committing atrocities in the first place.
I confess that I was out with the shock pictures today, and gory shock pictures they are, too. The worst one may have been the one in which a guy broke into his ex-wife’s house and slashed her dog up with a knife, nearly cutting off its nose and paws; animal control took evidence photos when the dog came to the shelter, still bleeding. They’re pretty horrific. I also showed a video taken by HSUS undercover folks of dogfights; also terrifying and awful.
I show these to ninth-graders because a lot of them treat animal cruelty cavalierly, and I hope that showing them the banal evil aspect of it will shock them out of complacency. I don’t know if it works, but I hope. Lord knows I don’t enjoy watching that damned video of dogfighting over and over.
Daniel
Just to clarify. The ads complained about in the OP do not have any images of cut up, burned or otherwise mistreated animals. Only cute, intact puppies and kittens. Any slashed up or drowned or burned animals you see are in your own head.
I understand that. And I wouldn’t show the pictures from my animal abuse presentation on the subway: I feel bad enough about showing them in a health class. Nonetheless, I think that ASPCA is doing great work, and raising awareness about animal cruelty is a worthy goal.
Daniel
Never in the OP did I suggest that they were showing anything disturbing upon first sight. It took me a couple seconds to realize what the ad meant…it’s basically a 1 + 1 + 1 ad, and while I COULD be thinking “oh horrible, duct tape a kitty cat to a wall and pour gasoline on it,” some kid (or deranged adult) could see it and think “hmm, first I find one of these stray cats in my neighborhood, and then I duct tape it down, pour gas on it and ignite it…that’ll show em! Thanks ASCAP…I was trying to figure out something fun to do tonight, and that idea’s perfect!”
I think you need to seriously consider the possibility that you might be a moron.