In Extreme Breeding

Then, in the late 1800s Kennel Clubs started springing up and humans started selecting dogs for their looks and inventing more and more breeds. When the UK Kennel Club began, there were 19 recognised breeds. Around the world, now, there are over 350.

Too many of these breeds have become more and more extreme in some of their characteristics. And it’s not just dogs. Cats, rabbits, birds, fish, small mammals, horses. You name it, and humans have done some very bad things.

Breeds are a totally man-made thing. They do not exist in nature. You can select and inbreed animals for health and function but when you select animals based solely on what they look like, you can never prioritise health or temperament.

We have hugely changed ears, eyes, skulls, skin and coats, tails, legs and a multitude of other bodily characteristics. The physical and mental suffering associated with extreme breeding is as tangible as physical abuse. We would never accept an animal being beaten on a daily basis so why do we allow animals to be produced that we know with certainty will suffer?

Please don’t pick quirky, weird looking animals. They are not cute, they are deformed and diseased, and the sooner we can reduce the demand for these pets, the sooner animal welfare will improve for future generations. If you have an extreme breed of animal already, fingers crossed for both of you. Please love them and care for them as best you can. And please don’t buy another one. Together we can make a huge difference to millions of future animals. Pick proportion. Select for health and temperament. We need loving family pets, capable of living happy, healthy lives.

In the presentation below you can find out more about extreme breeding and what physical and mental impacts it has on the animals themselves. Feel free to dip in and out of it if you don’t have time to watch it all now. And please share this page if you feel more people should know about this totally avoidable suffering.