Does PG Film Show Dogs Promote Child Molestation?

UPDATE May 24: Producers have removed Show Dogs from theaters to edit the below-indicated offensive scenes from the film, in what is being hailed as a major victory for concerned parents.

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The new film Show Dogs is aimed at families, but some bloggers are warning that it includes a storyline that teaches children the wrong message about sexual molestation.

The PG-rated film follows a dog, Max, who goes undercover with a detective at a dog show to catch a kidnapped panda.

Blogger and mother Terina Maldonado, though, is warning that the movie contains scenes that could be misinterpreted by children.

“What could have been solely a fun movie for kids that would get my highest recommendation is damaged by a dark and disturbing message hidden, not so subtly between the fluffy dogs and glamorous parties of the show dog lifestyle,” she wrote at MacaroniKid.com. “As part of any dog show, contestants are judged on their abilities and physical attributes. One part, in particular, is the inspection of the dog's private parts.”

Because Max is new to the competition, he also is new to the inspection of a dog’s private parts, Maldonado explained.

“Since the inspection of the private parts will happen in the finals, Frank touches Max’s private parts to get him use to it. Of course, Max doesn’t like it and snaps at Frank for him to stop. Max is then told by the former champion, who has been through the process before, that he needs to go to his ‘zen place’ while it happens so he can get through it. More attempts are made by Frank to touch Max’s private parts, but Max is still having trouble letting it happen and keeps snapping at him.

“The day of the finals come and if Max doesn’t let his private parts be touched, he may lose the competition and any hope of finding the kidnapped panda. It all rests on his ability to let someone touch his private parts. The judge’s hands slowly reach behind Max and he goes to his ‘zen place,’ He’s flying through the sky, dancing with his partner, there are fireworks and flowers-everything is great-all while someone is touching his private parts.”

Maldonadowrote that she kept thinking, “This is wrong, it doesn’t need to be in a kids movie.”

Her daughter thought the scene was funny, so the mom used it as a teaching moment.

“We talked about how we never let anyone touch our private parts, what they should do if anyone tries,” she wrote. “We reinforced that if anyone tries to touch their private parts or asks them to touch their private parts they should talk to us about that.”

Jenny Rapson, a mother and blogger at ForEveryMom.com, discouraged parents from watching the movie.

“How the script and premise for this movie EVER got approved scares the CRAP out of me!” she wrote. “This is 100% indoctrination. I will not apologize or care if anyone thinks I am crazy for thinking so. This is letting a movie of funny cartoon dogs teach our kids that hey, ‘sometimes ya just gotta let someone molest you.’ The message here is WAY beyond inappropriate — it’s downright DANGEROUS for our kids!”

On social media, some were just as critical.

“I have not seen #ShowDogsMovie yet, but PARENTS - please read!” Jack Patterson (@pastorjackp) wrote on Twitter, referencing Maldonado’s blog. He is a children’s pastor at Eastview Christian Church in Normal, Ill. “Especially in this #metoo culture, this is disturbing to say the least. A character's success in the shows "rests on his ability to let someone touch his private parts." MAJOR RED FLAG. #ProtectOurChildren.”

Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, MichaelFoust.com

Photo courtesy: Twitter/Show Dogs

Publication date: May 21, 2018