There is an ongoing movement in the United Kingdom to ban popular dog breeds such as French Bulldogs, Pugs, and other “flat-faced” breeds in advertisements.
Many of the proponents of this movement are calling for the public to refrain from engaging in “over-breeding” of these particular variations. According to the animal welfare charity Blue Cross, these breeds are a part of a “vicious cycle of over-breeding.” Various celebrities have also come forward in support of the campaign.
What’s the Problem?
Various dog breeds and pets fall under a specific category called brachycephalic pets. These are essentially short-muzzled animals who are at high risk of contracting severe health conditions and shorter life spans due to their anatomy.
Popular examples of brachycephalic pets include the famous French Bulldog and Pug breeds. Various animal rights organizations are adamant about banning the breeding of these types of pets.
The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has already called for a partial ban. And the Blue Cross has recently launched the #EndTheTrend campaign as well.
According to the Blue Cross, their goal is for UK firms to “commit by the end of 2022 to phase out the use of any brachycephalic pets in their future advertisements.”
As a part of its public awareness campaign, the Blue Cross Tweeted a video montage of various brachycephalic pets that noticeably struggle with breathing. Some of the common problems associated with brachycephalic pets include hyperthermia, sleep apnea, eye disease, and other notable illnesses, particularly breathing problems.
One of the main highlights of the #EndTheTrend campaign is to encourage British consumer brands to cease the promotion of these flat-faced animals in their advertising campaigns.
Health Issues of “Brachy” Pets
The Blue Cross also mentioned that its veterinary staff had treated more than 5,000 brachycephalic pets, and the numbers continue to grow weekly. One of the main reasons that cases are increasing is because French Bulldogs and Pugs are becoming more trendy in the eyes of prospective pet owners.
Other similar breeds like Boston Terriers, Persian Cats, and Lionheaded Rabbits are also becoming popular pet options. They are all prone to suffering from breathing problems because of their anatomies.
In a report published by the Manchester Evening News, various commenters on the news site’s Facebook page have supported the Blue Cross. Stephanie Barnes said:
“I think it’s a good thing, backyard breeders are ruining these breeds and half of them have crosses in them to get colours that don’t really exist in there breed standard. The poor dogs are dying due to no health tests and inbreeding.”
Another commenter, Nikki Jackson, also mentioned:
“It needs to happen, it’s barbaric to breed health conditions into dogs for the sake of aesthetics. For those who already own this type of dog you’d most likely be protected by having to register ownership by a cut off point, then authorities would be able to effectively manage illegal breeding.”
How do you feel about banning these kinds of pets in advertising? Do you think it’s going to solve this problem? Comment your thoughts down below.
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