Yardbarker
x
PETA speaks out against Rebel Wilson-hosted 'Pooch Perfect'

PETA speaks out against Rebel Wilson-hosted 'Pooch Perfect'

I may or may not have been aimlessly channel surfing last night, and I may or may not have stumbled upon the series premiere of Pooch Perfect on ABC. I may or may not have watched at least 15 minutes of the dog grooming competition, which elicited a reaction from my cousin's husband: "PETA can't like this, right?"

Right.

It took less than 24 hours after the show's well-watched debut episode for PETA senior manager of animals in film and television Lauren Thomasson to release a statement exclusively to TheWrap:

"Dogs are smart, loyal individuals—they’re not here for human amusement, and unfortunately, shows like Pooch Perfect can encourage people to restrain their dog and reach for the dye, even though doing so runs the risk of causing an allergic reaction that could even be fatal, in addition to stressing the animal. PETA reminds animal guardians that dogs love us just the way we are—and we should respect them enough to do the same for them."

The show is hosted by Pitch Perfect actress Rebel Wilson, a fourth-generation dog shower:

Wilson is joined by a panel of three judges: Lisa Vanderpump, Dr. Callie Harris and Jorge Bendersky. The competitors are 10 talented dog groomers from across the country with a $100,000 prize waiting at the finish line.

Wilson explained the competition's guidelines at the top of the hour. Every episode, there will be two challenges. One called the "Immunity Puppertinity," which offers safety from that week's elimination, and the other "Ultimutt Challenge" that decides the week's "top dog" (or "best in show") by the judges. 

The first-ever "Ultimutt Challenge" was for the groomers to use dye to transform dogs into exotic animals of their choosing. It should be noted that the broadcast stated the dye being used was "dog-safe." "We respect the dog, above all else," one contestant said. There were badgers, elephants, flamingos, skunks, tigers, and more, after four hours. 

For those interested, Gabriel and Monse decided to turn their pup into a goldfish and were voted best in show:

Pooch Perfect boasts Wilson, Elan Gale and Sonya Wilkes as executive producers. The first season will air seven more episodes every Tuesday beginning at 8 p.m. EST.

Megan Armstrong

Megan Armstrong (@megankarmstrong) is a writer whose work has appeared in places such as Billboard, GQ, Esquire, Bleacher Report, Uproxx, and others. Megan has also produced various podcasts and hosted a daily radio show at Mizzou. She grew up obsessed with sports — impressing adults by memorizing NFL statistics as a kindergartner — and grew into an obsession with music

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!