If you were watching last night's episode of Love/Hate you'll probably have a rough idea why animal rights charity ARAN is calling for the public to change the channel when Nidge and the boys hit our screens again next Sunday.
SPOILER ALERT: If you still haven't caught up on last night's episode we suggest you go and get yourself a fizzy orange, watch the show, and come back later.
Last year Aido's budgie bit the bullet and less than five minutes into this year's season opener a a cat was gunned down by a teenage assassin in a scene that the Animal Rights Action Network says does "irreperable damage to their work curbing violent crime towards animals."
"Violence towards animals is on the rise in Ireland and this violent and disgusting scene in Love/Hate does huge damage to our work of creating kindness towards animals on the streets" said ARAN Director John Carmody. "We’re encouraging people to switch channels next time the programme airs". We've got to admit, we can see where they're coming from, especially in the run up to Halloween.
Octagon films has confirmed (as if they needed to) that no animals were harmed in the making of the series, but ARAN (who know that no cat was actually killed) are still calling for action to be taken after it received dozens of complaints from viewers. The group wants the producers of the show to consider making a generous donation to programmes that aim to educate school children about the need to treat animals with respect.
Meanwhile, several Love/Hate Cat Twitter accounts have popped up in the last 24 hours, and the feline is fast becoming something of an internet sensation. Sure as my grandfather would say any time someone got shot on d'telly: "Don't be worrying about that lad, he got a hundred pound and a mug of tae after that."
Love/Hate returns to RTE 1 next Sunday night at 9.30pm
> Felines, fancy dress and fizzy orange: Did you catch Love/Hate last night?
