Bulldog-lovers are being urged to stop buying the “trendy” dogs, due to debilitating health problems. An animal rescue has pleaded with people not to buy the breed after its “worst ever” intake of sick pups.
Hope Rescue in Wales received ten bulldogs last week, all with severe health problems. The problems were a result of breeding issues, which are common with the breed.
The dogs that came into the care of Hope Rescue were described as the “worst bred” intake of dogs that it had ever seen. And staff at the charity said that the poor pooches will now not ever live normal lives, which will make it hard for them to find loving forever homes, the Liverpool Echo reports.
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Now, the charity has begged people to stop buying bulldogs altogether, adding that it will put its name behind a total ban of the breed altogether unless breeding of the dog type becomes kinder.
Hope Rescue’s founder, Vanessa Waddon, said that it is “vital” that buyers choose breeders who prioritise health before profit. She said that buyers can help to stop the cruel breeder of “brachycephalic” dogs, which are the dogs with exaggerated features.
(Image: Hope Rescue/Liverpool Echo)
Her comments come after similar pleas from other experts around the breeding of flat-faced dogs, which are often bred with multiple issues including difficulty breathing. Vanessa said: “It’s hard for us not to be sympathetic with calls to ban the breed, especially after seeing the horrendous condition of this latest intake.
“If things don’t change, we will be joining those calls. It’s vital buyers don’t facilitate the breeding of brachycephalic breeds with exaggerated features and choose breeders who prioritise health before profit. We cannot continue to take in these dogs and witness their suffering.”
Hope Rescue, which is based in Llanharan, Wales, received the ten bulldogs on June 14 after being seized by a local authority in Wales on welfare grounds. The dogs had many health conditions as a result of low welfare breeding and inherent breed-related conditions.
The poor dogs were suffering with eye conditions including cherry eye, where the tear gland becomes swollen and red, covering the eyeball, and entropion, where the eyelid is turned inward and causes the eyelashes to rub on the eyeball. The dogs also had inverted corkscrew tails, skin conditions, excessive folds and wrinkles and, most worryingly, significant issues with their legs, spines and hips. They also face breathing issues due to their flat faces.
The ten new bulldogs join five other dogs already in the charity’s care due to poor breeding practices and low welfare breeders prioritising wealth over health. Just a day after the dogs were signed into Hope Rescue’s care, results from a new study from the Royal Veterinary College were revealed which suggested that urgent action is required.
The Royal Veterinary College are now urging the public to think twice before buying a flat-faced breed and discourages breeding and purchasing of animals with extreme configurations. The college said: “Sadly, many of the breed’s problematic characteristics such as a very flat face, deep facial skin folds and noisy breathing are still often perceived by many people as ‘normal’ or even ‘desirable’ novelties – rather than major welfare issues.”
The findings indicate that urgent action is required to reduce the high rate of health issues related to extreme body shape currently seen in English Bulldogs if the future of the breed is to be protected. Hope Rescue’s own stance supports this and they say it’s integral for buyers to change their buying behaviours or risk this breed continuing to endure a lifetime of suffering.
The charity added that the dogs now need investigative tests, X-rays and surgeries, that’ll likely cost an estimated £20,000. Sara Rosser, head of welfare, said: “We’re pretty tough at Hope Rescue, but our rescue-hardened hearts have been well and truly broken by these dogs.
“It’s difficult for us to fundraise right now due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis but if the public could help in anyway, helping us to cover our vet fees, we’d be hugely grateful.” More information can be found online here.
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