I've just read a bit that apparently Ford did have complaints made when they first started the Dogbot adverts, and they had to give this response:

Quote:

Following your query regarding an accusation of cruelty to animals in the recent ‘Dogbot’ TV advertisements for Ford Fiesta we would like to bring to your attention the following points.
At no point in the development of the ‘Dogbot’ campaign was there any intention to endorse or trivialise cruelty to animals. The campaign is very much focused on the juxtaposition between stupid and clever technology.
Although a robotic dog character has been used to demonstrate the stupid element it is the character’s lack of advanced technology that is in question. The canine robot is aptly named ‘Dogbot’ to make it perfectly clear that it is a robot and not intended to represent a real life dog in any way. We have been careful to ensure that although the dogbot often causes harm to himself (he is never injured by anyone or anything else), he always ‘bounces’ back to appear in further commercials, and is never left permanently damaged. Dogbot is never killed and he never dies, he is a robotic character living in a robotic world where real life pain or injury cannot occur.



I can't believe that people complained!!
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