Magpie’s Story - Law of the Paw

I love happy endings and this story has one ...

We see the reallity of a stray from the dog’s point of view. (more after the video)

They’ll be sexually active earlier than you think

I like this campaign. It’s funny, and it plays with the emotions of parental protectiveness to get a very serious message across.

It’s a very different approach than the pathos of Sarah McLachlan’s famous SPCA PSA. (TM Advertising’s CCO, Bill Oakley, told AdFreak, “When I see those Sarah McLachlan commercials, I turn them off. I can’t even watch them.") And personally, I agree. These are positive and memorable.

See a campaign infographic video after the break.

Fishtagram - An Instagram-fueled petition

This is a good idea and was one of finalist entries at the One Show Young Ones competition. The competition is one of the most acclaimed advertising, interactive and design student competitions.
This entry is from Nicole Koestel and Brian Cheung and is called Fishtagram.

The idea is simple. Based on the biggest mobile social network they came up with Fishtagram. Every picture taken with this app generate a automatic tweet to the @USDA (Dept. of Agriculture) and the local congressman.
The idea was made for PETA. Nicole and Brian don’t want to use PETA’s usual shock tactics. But want an idea with a massive impact in favor of humane fishing.

The World map from a wild animal perspective

It is good to use data in awareness communication. Facts are important to make a cause valuable.
And, very important, the facts must be verifiable.
That’s what I miss here in this print ad from the South African Endangered Wildlife Trust. Only 10.8% of the world is left for nature according to the used map. What is he definition of ‘nature’? Is it the space left for wild animals?
Even the organizations website doesn’t tell us.

I like to believe the mentioned facts but the missing point makes me doubt. Regrettable because I like the artwork.

“It’s a small world if you’re a wild animal.
89.2% of the world belongs to humans. Nature is left with 10.8%. Help us protect these areas”

La Poule au Pot

This is the new campaign from GAIA, the Belgium animal rights organization. GAIA stands for Global Action in the Interest of Animals.
The campaign is a call to all supermarkets and manufacturers. The organization wants them not to use eggs from battery hens in the production of sauces, biscuits, pasta, ice cream etc.
Tagline: “Are you sure you do not eat eggs from battery hens?”
("Êtes-vous certain de ne pas manger d’œufs de batterie?”

The campaign contains two items, a print part and an online part. In both a visual is used to express how small a battery cage is.
A jar of mayonnaise filled with a chicken is used on the posters and magazine ad.
More surprising is the campaign website. It’s your screen which is just as large as a battery cage.

Face it: Exotic skins kill

Dia Mirza is the latest Bolly celeb to step up to pose and support PETA India’s latest campaign against exotic skins which features her done up as if she’s been skinned alive – a reality that snakes go through for belts, shoes and handbags.

A longtime supporter of PETA’s initiative, Ms Mirza was given a Hero To Animals award for promoting adoption of homeless dogs in her Born Free Entertainment home production Love Breakups Zindagi.

To hear Dia talk more about the latest print campaign and see behind-the-scenes footage of the photoshoot… (more after the video)

Papa Mink and The Fur Factory

This is an extraordinary story for the animal rights group Peta. There are (almost) no shocker to see and no one is naked ...
This cute animated spot tells the tale of mink family.
After the harmonious family breakfast, daddy mink and his son are going outside: little son goes to the school and the father to work in the fur factory.
But after just two minutes ... fairytale is over. (more after the video)

It’s a dog f*ck dog world

Actually, in this case it’s a “dog fuck dog fuck dog fuck dog” world, but that’s getting technical. This pet populations control campaign from Brazil is is an amusing example of doggy porn used to promote a responsible message.

For those concerned about exploitation of the dogs, I would only say I hope the client ensured no animals were embarrassed in the making of these ads. (It’s obviously ‘shopped.)

See a puppy threesome after the break.

A person is the best thing to happen to a shelter pet

No pitiful, neglected and abused animals in this campaign from the American Shelter Pet Project. Just sweet cuteness with our favorite hairballs. Unconditional love and understanding, who doesn’t want that?

The Shelter Pet Project is a public service ad campaign focused on spreading the word that pets in shelters are wonderful and lovable, and encouraging potential adopters to consider the shelter as the first place to find a new best friend.
The Project is the result of a collaborative effort between two leading animal welfare groups, The Humane Society of the United States and Maddie’s Fund, and the leading producer of public service advertising (PSA) campaigns in the USA, The Ad Council.

In this post 4 videos and two print ads from the campaign which started last November.
More print ads, radio spots and web banners here.

Safety in Numbers with Animal Cops

A new emergency telephone number recently started in the Netherlands: 114.  This number is meant as you witness an animal in need by accident, abuse or neglect. It is like 112, 999 or 911.
”114 144, red een dier” (Call 114 144 and safe an animal).

The idea caused a lot of stir because it came from the Dutch political party PVV, a populist and extreme discriminatory new movement.
Animal rights is also an important topic for them. They call the idea ‘animal cops’.

In this post the introductory campaign to make the Dutch aware about the emergency number.
I read a lot of negative comments today on Twitter. And I agree it’s hard to ignore the political situation in the Netherlands. It is part of the emotion around this campaign.
But when looking at it like a pro, more technical, what do you think? A translation isn’t necessary. The message is brought primarily visual.

Trying to ignore all emotions around the idea is difficult but I think the visual part of the campaign is too technical. Emotions as we used to see in animal rights campaigns are missing.
Others find the morphed animals very creepy.