Poor Barbie. She can’t accessorize without an animal-rights group calling her out.
As it did with an earlier campaign — against “Whale Trainer Barbie” — the group based in Norfolk, Virginia, saluted the iconic doll herself, who has “been fur-free and an animal advocate.”
But the cheers stopped at the door of maker Mattel, based in El Segundo.
The toymaker, PETA says, “has taken a turn for the worse and is now selling a breeder Barbie.”
A new model comes with a pregnant toy dog and three pups, PETA says, which “sends the damaging message that bringing more dogs into the world is something to be excited about and celebrate.”
PETA says breeding contributes to an overwhelming “companion-animal overpopulation crisis.”
More than 6 million dogs and cats enter U.S. animal shelters every year, PETA said, while only about half of them are adopted.
“Mattel should be teaching children to be responsible animal guardians — by having their animals spayed or neutered and always adopting from shelters, not by bringing more into an already overcrowded world,” said the post.
It urged readers to contact Mattel’s corporate office and ask the company to immediately discontinue “Barbie Newborn Pups,” available for $19.99 on the Mattel site.
The pups-loving Barbie has been out since at least July, according to YouTube reviews. The coming model was noted in February as well.
“Push on the mommy dog’s head to help her welcome a puppy into the world — then push twice more because she has three puppies!” Mattel says. “Wash the newborn puppies with the towel and cold water to open their eyes and reveal a colored heart. Is it a boy or girl?”
A Barbie Pet Care Center to go with the newborn pups was being marketed in May.
Five years ago, PETA made the same pitch regarding “Whale Trainer Barbie,” which alluded to SeaWorld.
Three years later, PETA claimed victory, quoting a Mattel spokesman as saying: “We’re well aware of and very sensitive to all the issues that you outlined … I can confirm we don’t make that doll anymore. … We certainly don’t have any plans to produce the doll again in the future.”
But Mattel spokesman Alex Clark told NBC News: “A number of factors go into a decision like that. Their licensing deal expired, and we’ve elected not to renew it.”
In response to MyNewsLA.com queries, Stephanie Shaw of PETA said her group approached Mattel about discontinuing the “Barbie Newborn Pups” set months ago, “when we first became aware of it, as we have done previously regarding other concerning products, such as ‘SeaWorld Trainer Barbie.'”
Shaw, assistant manager of corporate affairs, added: “We always attempt to work privately with companies first, before engaging our members and supporters.”
She said PETA became aware of the Barbie-and-puppies set via PETA Kids, “and many of our younger supporters are fans of Barbie. …. We routinely encourage shoppers of all ages to call out the exploitation of animals wherever they see it.”
Mattel did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest PETA target.