Reese Witherspoon’s Puppy Purchases Called Out on New PETA Mobile Billboard

For Immediate Release:
January 25, 2021

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

Reese Witherspoon is in major trouble with PETA after introducing Major the Labrador puppy on Instagram. Because the Legally Blonde star has now bought two purebred puppies from breeders in just the last three months, a PETA mobile billboard will circle Nashville later this week with a pointed appeal from one of the millions of lovable dogs in shelters Witherspoon has overlooked.

“Every time someone buys a puppy from a pet store or breeder, a dog in an animal shelter loses the chance of finding a home,” says PETA Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch. “PETA is asking celebrities like Reese Witherspoon to use their significant influence by showing love to dogs in shelters, who have so much love to give in return, instead of fueling an industry that perpetuates animal homelessness and suffering.”

PETA notes that around 70 million dogs and cats are homeless in the U.S. at any given time, including many Labradors. Petfinder currently lists more than 8,200 Labs available for adoption in the U.S. An estimated 10% of all homeless animals end up in shelters, where many have to be euthanized for reasons including illness, injury, old age, emotional and psychological damage, and a lack of good homes. Breeders add to this crisis by bringing more animals into the world, who in turn produce even more animals, including many who will end up on the street or in animal shelters.

PETA’s motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way,” and the group opposes speciesism, which is a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.