For the second year in a row, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has been rescheduled from winter to summer as a result of the pandemic. But in light of all the misery that the breeding industry causes dogs and the people who buy them, the show shouldn’t just be delayed—it should be permanently canceled.
“Purebred” dogs are predisposed to a slew of serious health and behavioral problems, including unpredictable aggression. This results in enormous suffering, hefty vet bills, heartbreak and sometimes even hospitalization for dog guardians. If you’ve experienced these kinds of issues with an American Kennel Club–registered purebred, PETA wants to hear from you.
The AKC’s “breed standards”—which are used to judge purebreds at Westminster and other dog shows—call for distorted physical features and traits that can be achieved only through harmful breeding practices.
