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Checkers Cat Bag Promo Gets Bad Reviews
All Headline News ^ | 2-20-07 | Megan Shannon

Posted on 02/25/2007 8:37:17 AM PST by FlJoePa

February 20, 2007 11:42 p.m. EST

Megan Shannon - All Headline News Staff Writer Tampa, FL (AHN) - Animal services are up in arms about a Tampa-based fast food restaurant promotional stunt asking customers to dress their cats in specially designed take out bags.

The bags were invented after Checkers restaurant saw that Rap Cat, a cat puppet used in Checkers advertising commercials, was gaining popularity.

The bags have holes for the legs and tail of the cat as well as a head hole in the bottom of the bag. The bag is designed to look like a baseball jersey with a gold chain like the Rap Cat character. Checkers is asking customers to send in photos and videos of their cats in costume.

Hillsborough County Animal Control said this is a matter of animal cruelty.

Marti Ryan with Hillsborough Animal Control said, "It appears to be an exercise, I'm sorry, in ignorance. So if you try to put them in a paper bag and make them dance and take pictures, they're going to exhibit a typical fight or flight response. And if they fight, you're going to get hurt," he says.

Checkers representatives say the bags are all in good fun. A disclaimer on the bag reads, "Not all cats will be down with wearing this bag. Do not harm or endanger any cat."


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: checkers; rapcat
Pretty funny stuff. Anyone that has ever seen the Rap Cat commercials think they are about the funniest thing ever. Rap Cat even now has his own website:

Rap Cat

1 posted on 02/25/2007 8:37:19 AM PST by FlJoePa
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To: FlJoePa

This is about as annoying as those Jingle Cats.


2 posted on 02/25/2007 8:39:22 AM PST by SamAdams76 (I'm 23 days from outliving Steve Irwin)
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To: FlJoePa
Animal services are up in arms about a Tampa-based fast food restaurant promotional stunt asking customers to dress their cats in specially designed take out bags.

Maybe they can expiate their anxiety by taking a few hundred stray cats out and euthanizing them.

3 posted on 02/25/2007 8:41:25 AM PST by Steely Tom
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To: Slings and Arrows

meow


4 posted on 02/25/2007 8:42:22 AM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: FlJoePa

"Don't get p'd when I force you to wrap your thumb when I peal it back like a banana some night when you least expect it"

5 posted on 02/25/2007 8:42:55 AM PST by Doogle (USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated)
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To: FlJoePa
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
6 posted on 02/25/2007 8:43:29 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: FlJoePa
Animal services are up in arms about a Tampa-based fast food restaurant promotional stunt asking customers to dress their cats in specially designed take out bags.

Why should animal services be any different?

Given enough time, all public servants degenerate into wannabe public masters.
It's part of the human genes.

Firemen turn into rule and law-making fools.
Policemen lecture us on what is and what is not acceptable in protecting our homes and families, and now, yes, animal welfare types who can't get a real job, feel entitled to tell us how we may enjoy our pets.

I will put up my cat and dog against any of these losers in the well-cared, fed, health and happiness department.
And we've enjoyed scotch tape on the paws and dress-up on special occasions. They are part of the family and they must enjoy it. They are both next to a family member 24/7.

When my daughter was a young child she had baby buggies, doll clothes, stuffed toys, but no doll. Her dress-up companion was Mademoiselle, the kitty. Mamsy lived to be 22...

Silliness season.

7 posted on 02/25/2007 8:46:13 AM PST by Publius6961 (MSM: Israelis are killed by rockets; Lebanese are killed by Israelis.)
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To: FlJoePa
Hillsborough County Animal Control said this is a matter of animal cruelty.

Generally, from what I've found is that if the cat doesn't want to go in the paper bag, he has ways of making that clear. And costly to the person doing it.

8 posted on 02/25/2007 8:48:51 AM PST by atomicpossum (Replies must follow approved guidelines or you will be kill-filed without appeal.)
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To: martin_fierro

A friend gave me a bag yesterday. Debating whether or not to try to dress up my 3 year old Blue Point Siamese - Canoe. I think I might clip his claws first.

BTW, here's Rap Cat's bio from his website:

Hip hop used to be a human’s game. Not anymore.

Here comes Rapcat. The most skilled cat-rapper on the scene today – and some say, the most skilled rapper of any species.

Rapcat’s got a flow that cannot be matched, honed in the streets and alleys of his hometown, Jersey City. In the tradition of the greatest East Coast rappers, Rapcat writes all his own lyrics.

Almost since he was a kitten, Rapcat was hustling his mixtapes on the street and in the parking lot of Checkers, his favorite hangout. His underground cred, already strong, skyrocketed when he got sent off to the St. Louis Home for Delinquent Felines, for the “crime” of dealing catnip. (Which is legal, but we all know no jury’s gonna give a cat a fair trial.)

While in “The Cage,” Rapcat perfected a tougher rhyme style. Once a week he’d squeeze through the bars and sneak over to Rally’s. He would bring some burgers back for himself, and some to trade with the other cats for balls of yarn and recording equipment.

By the time he got out for good behavior, Rapcat’s first full-length album was complete. His tales of hard livin’ on the streets form the core of “Look What I Dragged In,” already a bootleg classic.

While in “The Cage,” Rapcat perfected a tougher rhyme style. Once a week he’d squeeze through the bars and sneak over to Rally’s. He would bring some burgers back for himself, and some to trade with the other cats for balls of yarn and recording equipment.

By the time he got out for good behavior, Rapcat’s first full-length album was complete. His tales of hard livin’ on the streets form the core of “Look What I Dragged In,” already a bootleg classic.

In 2006, Rapcat was rocketed to worldwide fame with his appearance in the now-famous Checkers/Rally’s TV commercial.

Now he’s back with his major-label debut, “8 Lives Left.” 12 new jams to fire up the radio, rip up the dancefloors, and make the national booty shake. The killer first track, “Meow Meow,” rides like a white-leather upholstered Caddy on a silk highway, with a strawberry milkshake in the cupholder.

No doubt, it’s gonna be the party anthem of 2007. Maybe even 2008 and 2009. At least, until Rapcat releases his next single.

So what’s next for the Fellini of Felines? Movie acting? Producing for other up-and-coming alleycats? A clothing line? He’s not saying.

For now, life is good for rap fans and cat fanciers worldwide.


9 posted on 02/25/2007 8:49:03 AM PST by FlJoePa (Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good.)
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To: FlJoePa

My dogs were asleep at my feet until I clicked on the link and the cat began to meow. One dog got up to look around, the other laid there an growled. I don't think my pups are Rap Cat fans.

We don't have the restaurants where we live, so I've never seen the commercials.


10 posted on 02/25/2007 8:50:41 AM PST by kalee
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To: FlJoePa
Checkers is asking customers to send in photos and videos of their cats in costume. Hillsborough County Animal Control said this is a matter of animal cruelty. Marti Ryan with Hillsborough Animal Control said, "It appears to be an exercise, I'm sorry, in ignorance. So if you try to put them in a paper bag and make them dance and take pictures, they're going to exhibit a typical fight or flight response. And if they fight, you're going to get hurt," he says.

Oh for pete sake its just a paper bag.Instead of real animal cruelty they get in a uproar over this
Marti Ryan with Hillsborough Animal Control said,....
and I say Ryan needs to take a Chill pill and a big cup of STFU

11 posted on 02/25/2007 8:52:53 AM PST by Charlespg (Peace= When we trod the ruins of Mecca and Medina under our infidel boots.)
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To: Charlespg

I think that to properly handle cats one must put them in something much stouter than paper bags.


12 posted on 02/25/2007 8:57:20 AM PST by Emmett McCarthy
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To: FlJoePa
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Rap Cat likes to get jiggy.

13 posted on 02/25/2007 8:57:24 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: atomicpossum
Generally, from what I've found is that if the cat doesn't want to go in the paper bag, he has ways of making that clear. And costly to the person doing it.

I suppose it depends on the cat. All the cats I ever owned, including Ace, the current one, will wear his own bag.

All I have to do is put it on the floor, and in he goes.

I wonder if the fact that he's an indoor cat and very much a constant part of the family make a difference?

14 posted on 02/25/2007 8:58:43 AM PST by Publius6961 (MSM: Israelis are killed by rockets; Lebanese are killed by Israelis.)
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To: FlJoePa

In that case they would have hated me when I was a little girl cause I used to dress my kitten up in dolls clothes. I truly destest animal abuse but this ISN'T abuse!


15 posted on 02/25/2007 8:59:40 AM PST by proudofthesouth (Mao said that power comes at the point of a rifle; I say FREEDOM does.)
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To: martin_fierro
They were together in the House.

Just the two of them.

It was a cold, dark, stormy night. The storm had come quickly

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

and each time the thunder boomed he watched her jump.

She looked across the room and admired his strong appearance...and

wished that he would take her in his arms, comfort her and protect her from the storm.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

She wanted that...more than anything.

Suddenly, with a pop, the power went out... She screamed...

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

He raced to the sofa where she was cowering.

He didn't hesitate to pull her into his arms.

He knew this was a forbidden union and

expected her to pull back.

He was surprised when she didn't resist but instead clung to him

The storm raged on...as did their growing passion.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting And there came a moment when each knew that they had to be together.

They knew it was wrong...

Their families would never understand... So consumed were they in their passion that they heard no opening of doors..just the faint click of a camera.....

. >>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>

>>

>

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

16 posted on 02/25/2007 9:13:42 AM PST by digger48
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To: Steely Tom

Well it's a QUALITY OF LIFE issue. Those cats are better off dead than having wanton sex and getting dressed in paper sacks. < /s >


17 posted on 02/25/2007 9:29:34 AM PST by weegee (No third term. Hillary Clinton's 2008 election run presents a Constitutional Crisis.)
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To: proudofthesouth

Agree...too bad they don't act on real animal abuse like they do on this genuinely funny ad campaign.


18 posted on 02/25/2007 10:02:03 AM PST by FlJoePa (Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good.)
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To: FlJoePa

Hillsborough County Animal Control said this is a matter of animal cruelty.

&&
Typical liberals; no sense of humor.


19 posted on 02/25/2007 10:59:17 AM PST by Bigg Red (You are either with us or with the terrorists.)
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