Iconic children’s show Blue Peter is phasing out dogs and cats in exchange for gadgets and technology to appeal to youngsters who are more interested in a PS3 than a puppy.
The show has just moved from London to the BBC’s new northern base at MediaCity in Salford, and animals are going to feature less and less on the show in the future. The target age range of viewers of Blue Peter is 6 – 12 year olds, and the show is fighting to keep the attention of kids away from dedicated channels of children’s programming.
Only one of the Blue Peter pets moved up north with the programme; current Blue Peter dog Barney is owned by presenter Helen Skelton and will still feature on the show. The show’s two cats, Socks and Cookie, have gone to live in Hertfordshire in retirement allowing them to put their feet up and spend their days relaxing in comfortable cat beds, and Shelley the tortoise also didn’t move to the show’s new home.
Blue Peter has been famous for its pets and the charming mishaps caused by the animals over the years, with many of the puppies and kittens featuring on the show becoming more famous than the presenters! The idea behind featuring pets on the show was to encourage those children who had animals to take care of them properly and act as surrogate pets for those who did not have any.
Families who are lucky enough to have pets should look to Online For Pets for all their dog and cat supplies. The website has a wide range of items to ensure that all pets stay happy and healthy and as they are based online they can offer competitive prices, so you can keep your pet well looked after, for less.
