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The legendary rugby referee has spoken out after the TV presenter’s announcement sparked controversy
Legendary rugby referee Nigel Owens has slammed BBC star Chris Packham’s plan to feed his dogs a plant-based diet as “cruel”, with the presenter on the receiving end of a fierce online backlash.
Naturalist and nature photographer Packham, known for hosting programmes such as Springwatch and The Really Wild Show, has long been outspoken on matters of nature conservation and animal cruelty. After three decades of being a vegetarian, he announced in 2019 that he was becoming vegan, saying “the world is eating too much meat”.
The 64-year-old made his decision after doing ‘Veganuary’, in which people around the world try a vegan diet for the entire month of January. Now, he has announced that he is trialling the same diet with his pet poodles, Sid and Nancy.
In making the announcement on X, Packham cited findings from leading veterinary professor Andrew Knight, who says that meat-based pet food “has created an epidemic of obesity and other diet-related illnesses among dogs and cats,” with evidence mounting that animals can “thrive” on carefully-designed vegan or vegetarian diets.
“It’s becoming increasingly obvious that dogs can thrive on a plant-based diet,” the BBC presenter wrote. “Excited to be trying this out with my own poodles Sid & Nancy this #Veganuary with [omni.pet].”
However, Packham has faced considerable backlash on social media over his decision, with rugby icon Owens among those to voice their disapproval.
“That’s very cruel, denying them their preferred choice of food,” he wrote in response to the presenter’s post. “How cruel. Dogs are not vegetarians.”
Owens later added: “A dog will always eat its natural choice of feed when there is a choice. Denying them that choice is cruel in my opinion.”
The Welsh refereeing legend was not alone in criticising Packham, with some social media users even accusing the BBC star of “abuse” and “animal cruelty”.
“You’re supposedly a naturalist, so you should know damn well that dogs aren’t vegan!,” wrote one. “You’re quick enough to try and call out animal abuse whilst doing it yourself. Hypocrite!”
Another said: “Plants alone cannot supply all the amino acids and other essential nutrients required by carnivores. They also have shorter and simpler digestive systems and lack the enzymes required to extract maximum nutrition from a plant diet. What you are proposing is animal cruelty!”
A third asked: “Why would you force a dog to be denied meat , a natural part of their diet because of your ideologies?,” while another wrote: “Chris, I like you and respect a lot that you do; but this is a dangerous statement to make. I thought it was a parody account when reading this post – unbelievable.”
However, some users supported Packham’s decision, with one writing: “My dog has been so much healthier eating vegan! I would never be cruel to any animal!
“After being quite ill throughout life (with digestive and other issues) since trying a vegan [diet], my dog is now well and thriving!”
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