“Torture breeding.” That’s how many countries refer to the breeding practices that result in dogs with grotesquely flattened snouts like those of English bulldogs, French bulldogs, pugs, Pekingese, Boston terriers, boxers and Shih Tzus. “Torture breeding” is the literal translation of the German term “Qualzucht,” which means promoting traits in animals that cause them pain, suffering or harm.
Germany, Norway, Austria and Switzerland have passed laws to restrict torture breeding, and the Netherlands has made it illegal to breed about 20 types of dogs who are intentionally bred to have flat faces and is now seeking to ban their import and trade as well. Animal welfare groups in Australia and the U.K. are calling for similar measures. It’s time for the U.S. to ban torture breeding, too. Breeding deliberately deformed dogs who suffer their whole lives, all just for human preference, is undeniable cruelty.
Dogs who are selectively bred (and often inbred) to have nearly snoutless faces are afflicted by a condition called brachycephalic syndrome, which means that their crumpled, constricted airways leave them struggling just to breathe. These breathing-impaired breeds (BIB) suffer from numerous health problems, such as sleep apnea, gagging, vomiting, fainting, dental issues, eye problems caused by misshapen skulls, laryngeal collapse caused by chronic stress on the cartilage and strain on the heart from fighting for air — and that’s only a partial list.
It can be tough or even impossible for BIBs to run, play with other dogs or bond with their guardians over a game of fetch. Even going for a walk can be difficult — and in the summertime, it can be deadly. Because dogs release body heat primarily through panting, BIBs, who can’t breathe as efficiently as dogs with normal-length snouts, are at least twice as likely to suffer from heatstroke. Their inability to exercise predisposes them to obesity and diabetes. And according to a recent study at the University of California, Los Angeles, their facial deformities may even hamper their ability to smell — a vital sense that dogs rely on to navigate the world as much as humans rely on eyesight. Designed only to suit humans’ fleeting trends, these dogs are robbed of nearly everything that matters to them most.
The process of creating BIBs is ugly, too. Bulldogs, pugs and Boston terriers have been so severely altered that they can’t reproduce naturally, and the puppies’ heads can’t fit through the birth canal. Breeders artificially inseminate female dogs, and their puppies must be delivered via cesarean section, meaning that the mothers are subjected to a painful surgery with every litter they’re forced to carry. And because of their distorted airways, BIBs die under anesthesia much more often than other dogs do.
Many leading veterinarians and veterinary organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association and the British Veterinary Association, condemn breeding dogs with disfigured faces. According to noted vet Dr. Scott Miller, “They’re in pain, they’re uncomfortable and in a lot of cases, they need surgical correction to be normal.” A study found that one-fifth of BIB guardians reported that their dogs had undergone at least one surgery related to having distorted physical features. But even expensive, painful and traumatic surgeries aren’t a fix. According to a report from the University of Pennsylvania’s Ryan Veterinary Hospital, “(A)lmost all animals will continue to exhibit some degree of upper airway obstructive signs.” When buyers become overwhelmed by trying to manage these dogs’ numerous costly health issues, they frequently turn them over to shelters, exacerbating the homeless-animal crisis.
Anyone who suffers from asthma or has had a severe respiratory illness knows the panic and fear that come with not being able to breathe. To force a dog to spend their entire life like that just to look a certain way is unconscionable. All countries should enact laws right now to protect dogs from greed-driven breeding practices that condemn them to a lifetime of suffering. And please, if you care about dogs’ health and happiness — not just how they look — never buy one from a breeder, a pet store, a website or anywhere else that profits from animals’ misery.
