Pit Bull Owners Savage McDonald's Ad

'Risky' McBites ad pulled after outcry
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 7, 2012 1:52 AM CST
Pit Bull Owners Savage McDonald's Ad
Stephanie Filer, communications manager for the Animal Rescue League of Iowa posted this illustration on social media sites to protest the McDonald's ad.   (AP Photos/Animal Rescue League of Iowa)

Annoying America's dog owners is bad for business, McDonald's discovered after running an ill-conceived radio ad for its new Chicken McBites. The ad said eating McBites was less risky than naming your son Sue, giving friends your Facebook password—or petting a stray pit bull. The ad was pulled after a flood of complaints from enraged pit bull owners, AP reports.

"I found it extremely offensive and reckless," says the media coordinator for a pit bull rescue organization in California. "It was stupid marketing, playing into the media hysteria about pit bulls." McDonald's apologized on social media sites and on a toll-free number. "The ad was insensitive in its mention of pit bulls. We apologize," a spokesperson said. "It's never our intent to offend anyone with how we communicate news about McDonald's." (More pit bull stories.)

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