101 reasons not to buy a dog

Paw fever: The writer believes Disney’s origin movie of Cruella, the villain from its classic film 101 Dalmatians, will not have a happy ending for real-life dogs. — Photos: Handout

MORE than a year into our collective lockdown, many of us have gotten used to streaming the latest films from the comfort of our homes with our animal companions by our side. But no matter how desperate I am for a couple of hours of escapism, Disney’s Cruella – the origin story for Cruella De Vil, the villain from 101 Dalmatians – is one film that gives me paws. For real-life dogs, I worry it’s not going to end well.

When the live-action adaptation of the 1961 animated feature film 101 Dalmatians was released in 1996, kids clamoured for the adorable polka-dotted dogs. I was one of them. My parents, seeing how enamoured I was by the breed, were convinced. Having learned that Dalmatians are frequently inbred, they wanted to do what they thought was the responsible thing and find a “reputable” breeder.