GoDaddy GoDaddy has pulled its 2015 Super Bowl commercial starring Buddy the golden retriever after backlash from animal lovers. 
GoDaddy GoDaddy’s commercial begins with Buddy, right, getting thrown from the back of a pickup truck. 
GoDaddy Buddy, a golden retriever, makes the long journey home only to be sold by his owner in the controversial commercial. GoDaddy The owner in the commercial sells Buddy the dog on a website she created with GoDaddy.
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GoDaddy is in the doghouse with animal lovers.
The domain registry site pulled its Super Bowl commercial after animal advocates criticized it for promoting puppy mills, which are roundly accused of supportingmistreatment of animals.
In the 30-second spot, released Tuesday morning, golden retriever Buddy gets thrown off the back of his owner’s red pickup truck. The pup braves a long trek to get back to his owner, who is thrilled to see him.
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“I’m so glad you made it home!” she says. “Because I just sold you on this website I made with GoDaddy. Ship him out!”
The pooch gets thrown in a car with NASCAR star Danica Patrick, GoDaddy’s spokeswoman extraordinaire.
Animal lovers around the Internet blasted the commercial, arguing that pets purchased online are often raised in inhumane conditions and are sold by rogue breeders.
Animal rights advocate Helena Yurcho launched a Change.org petition to yank the ad and garnered more than 42,000 signatures.
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“Whether or not this was meant to be satirical, it’s offensive,” she wrote, noting the ad pokes fun at popular dog-themed Super Bowl spots. “Essentially, Go Daddy is encouring private breeding/puppy mills while shelter animals wait patiently for their forever homes or worse – to be euthanized.”
Thank you @animalrescuers for the candid feedback. What should have been a fun and funny ad clearly missed the mark and we will not air it.
— Blake Irving (@Blakei) January 27, 2015
PETA director Colleen O’Brien told Adweek that GoDaddy was right to promote adoption but should have pulled the ad.
“GoDaddy’s now-yanked commercial showed that anyone who sells a dog online is a callous jerk,” she said in a statement. “The sale of animals online and from pet stores and breeders should be roundly condemned, and it was today.”
The ad was meant to raise awareness about the company’s work with small businesses, GoDaddy CEO Blake Irving said in a blog post entitled, “We’re listening, message received.”
“However, we underestimated the emotional response,” he wrote. “And we heard that loud and clear.”
The company will air a backup Super Bowl commercial instead that Irving hopes will make people laugh, he said — meaning GoDaddy will still shell out $ 4.5 million for a spot during the Feb. 1 game.
As for Buddy, he was purchased from a reputable breeder and has a permanent home with a long-time GoDaddy employee, Irving said.
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The domain registry site has been in hot water before over its racy ads.
GoDaddy had to censor its 2013 Super Bowl commercial showing supermodel Bar Rafaeli making out with a geeky extra because it was too “indecent.”
rblidner@nydailynews.com
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