Another controversial Facebook post sees Dog and Duck slammed online
A Hindley St nightclub says it was joking when it offered “free puppies” for revellers — but RSPCA isn’t laughing after it was inundated with complaints.
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A city nightclub’s marketing stunt has backfired after Facebook users slammed the club for offering free puppies to customers.
Dog and Duck’s Facebook post offering “real life puppies” has more than 2500 comments, with many accusing the club of animal cruelty.
The post says the club will give weekend revellers the chance to party and take a puppy home.
“That’s right we have real life puppies in the venue Saturday night,” the post continues.
“This could be a forever pet or just for a little while.
“If you change your mind bring the puppie (sic) back.”
Facebook users immediately jumped on the post declaring it disgusting and with many tagging the RSPCA.
The club, owned by David O’Connell, has since claimed the post was a joke but the RSPCA remains “highly concerned”.
“Young animals like puppies, in particular, are especially vulnerable and to even jokingly suggest that you could take them to the loud environment of a nightclub, give them away, and then potentially have them returned, is appalling,” RSPCA South Australia Animal Welfare Advocate Rebekah Eyers said.
“We understand the desire to publicise a venue, but this idea was clearly not well thought out and indeed appears to have backfired.
“Our office has been inundated with calls and emails complaining about the post, which has been a waste of valuable resources here at RSPCA – all for what we are now being told was a joke.”
The Hindley St club has previously come under fire for offering free condoms to club-goers earlier this year and free cigarettes in 2018.
Dog and Duck declined to comment on the matter when contacted by The Advertiser.
Fellow Hindley St HQ Complex just down the road also posted to Facebook later in a separate post of their page, announcing they would donate a percentage of their door sales this Saturday night to RSPCA SA.