Dalmatian Lovers Fear Infatuation 90-Year-Old Founded Dalmatian Rescue Service After ‘61 Film

If you find yourself breaking out in a rash of spots this Christmas, you’ll know you’ve gone down with the latest disease: Dalmatia.

Across the country, Dalmatian rescuers are bracing themselves for what they consider to be an inevitable influx of unwanted puppies following the release of Disney’s real-life version of “101 Dalmatians” this month.

They fear that parents will give in to pressure from children seduced by the dotty bundles, only to find out months later that they cannot handle the boisterous breed.

The puppies were irresistible the first time around - and they weren’t even real. On Christmas Day 1961, Disney released a cartoon adaptation of Dodie Smith’s classic children’s story “The One Hundred and One Dalmatians.”

The animated doggy fairy tale was an instant hit and the demand for Dalmatians almost doubled.

This time, in Disney’s words, “The magic is real.” The cast consists of live puppies and Glenn Close as a gorgeously evil Cruella de Vil.

To 90-year-old Phyllis Piper, who founded the Dalmatian Rescue Service 34 years ago, it is a familiar scenario. She spent the ‘60s picking up the pieces after instant puppy purchases.

“We had quite a lot of extra rescue work after the release of the first film,” she said. “We’re very worried this time - especially as they have chosen to use live puppies.

“The release of the cartoon video (in September) has already created an extra demand for puppies. The welfare of Dalmatians is the only thing in my heart.”

The Kennel Club’s statistics show how the 1961 film put the breed on the map, prompting an upsurge in the demand for spotty dogs. In 1959, there were 791 registered Dalmatian puppies.1963, there were 1,549.

Vanessa Davies, publicity manager for Buena Vista, Disney’s UK distributor, denied the puppy lust precedent.

“There is no statistical evidence to suggest that the release of the live action version of ‘101 Dalmatians’ will cause the public to rush out and buy dogs at Christmas,” she insisted. “This did not happen when the original animated version of the film was released in 1961.”

But figures show that pre-publicity for both the video of the cartoon version and the live cinema version has already resulted in an increased demand for the breed: 3,120 puppies were registered in 1995. In the first nine months of this year, 2,914 puppies had already been registered.

Brian Leonard, of the Kennel Club, said Buena Vista’s remarks were “naive.”

“I don’t know where they’re getting their information from. They certainly haven’t talked to me about it.”

Dalmatian lovers nationwide are trying to put across their message: “Don’t be a Christmas Cruella.”

An adult Dalmatian weighs 60 pounds and, as a former carriage dog, requires four miles of exercise a day.

The British Dalmatian Club is rallying its 700 troops to distribute fliers warning: “Seen the film? Read the book? Want the dog? Wait.” The North of England Dalmatian Club has adopted the slogan: “Say ‘no’ to a Dalmatian puppy.”