Loving me is easy, being me is hard
Many of us have come to love dogs and cats with features such as flat faces, screw tails and folded ears.
The problem is, people are often unaware that the very look they love is causing these animals to suffer harm. We are a nation of animal lovers, and we know that most people would never want to see an animal suffer, let alone a beloved pet.
That’s why we’re raising awareness of the impact of these extreme features. Because we want to help people make informed choices; not make anyone feel guilty for choices they may have made in the past, without knowing the full picture.
A harmful trend
Our research shows that social media is rapidly changing how people expect dogs and cats to look, behave and be treated. Our feeds are full of pet content, exposing us to dogs and cats with unusual, exaggerated and unique looks – but rarely showing the associated problems. When we see something all the time, it becomes normal and acceptable. But an animal’s health and welfare is never an acceptable trade-off for an on trend look.
Cost of Cute
Demand for dogs and cats with extreme characteristics is skyrocketing. Breeds that have these ‘cute’, yet harmful features are now some of the most popular pets in the UK. These features can have a devastating impact on their health and welfare; increasing risk of illness or injury, causing serious pain and discomfort, and stopping them doing things that are essential for a normal, happy life – like breathing, eating, walking, communicating and playing.
Owners often end up paying expensive vet bills and can go through the heartbreak of seeing their animal suffering with a reduced quality and length of life.
Ultimately, many of these dogs and cats end up in rescue centres like Battersea, because their owners are unable to cope with the financial and emotional cost of caring for an animal with such complex needs.
What can we do?
We want everyone to prioritise health and welfare over looks when choosing a pet so we reduce the demand for puppies and kittens to be bred with these features, and dogs and cats can live long, happy lives with their owners.
Learning more about extreme characteristics and the problems they can cause for dogs and cats is the first step. If you are planning to get a dog or cat, make sure you do your research using reliable sources, so you get an animal who won’t suffer because of how they’ve been bred to look. There are lots of healthy breeds and mixed breeds out there, and many rescue animals who need rehoming.
And always think twice before liking or sharing content featuring dogs and cats with extreme characteristics online. Instead, let’s celebrate healthy, happy dogs and cats – quirks and all!
What is an extreme characteristic?
A physical characteristic or feature that’s been selectively bred in by humans to achieve an exaggerated look in a dog or cat. Many of these have become so common we often think it’s natural for the breed:
- Flat faces (also known as brachycephalic)
- Bulging eyes
- Under or overshot jaws
- Corkscrew tails
- Folded ears
- Hairlessness
- Dwarfism
- Disproportionately short legs and long spines
- Eyelids that roll inwards, or outwards and droop
- Teacup sizes
- Merle colouration
- Unusual fur types not typical to the breed
These features can lead to a huge range of problems from breathing issues and skin infections to joint pain and difficulties communicating.
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