SilverLinings
Well-Known Member
There was an article in The Times today saying that the online greeting cards retailer Moonpig has stopped selling cards with images of Pugs and Frenchies on due to the welfare concerns about brachiocephalic breeds. The decision has been welcomed by PETA, although it has been pointed out that they are still selling items with images of English Bulldogs on, which Moonpig say they are looking into.
Interestingly the article also states that some European countries (including Austria, Germany, Norway and the Netherlands) are imposing restrictions on the breeding of pugs, and the Dutch agriculture minister announced last month that he is planning to ban flat-faced breeds on the grounds of cruelty.
The move by moonpig sounds like a positive way to start educating the general public that these types of deformed dog breeds (where there is physical suffering as a direct result of their morphology) should not be seen as acceptable, but I presume they are still selling images of a range of other breeds with detrimentally extreme features such as dachshunds, breeds with excessive skin rolls, and the bulldogs already mentioned.
There is a group based in Germany and Sweden called the International Retro Pug Club that is trying to breed pugs back to their 'original' form, where their features aren't so exaggerated (so longer legs, a less flat face, a straighter tail). They are subjecting every dog and bitch that they use for breeding to a vigorous vet exam plus x-rays and CT scans to improve the health of the breed. Hopefully their popularity with pug devotees will take off, and the more extreme modern type will be allowed to die out, although I suspect this will only happen if aided by welfare legislation.
Are there any other breed organisations/clubs (not just individual breeders) currently trying to breed out the more extreme physical traits of 'their' breed of dog?
And do people think that the move by Moonpig is a good idea, or something that could snowball into a PETA-type campaign to remove images of dogs completely from products/marketing? Personally I think that companies are aware of the selling power of dogs (and other animals) so unlikely to go to the extent of removing all breeds from their products, but I think it is positive if they avoid the more extreme breeds on welfare grounds.
Interestingly the article also states that some European countries (including Austria, Germany, Norway and the Netherlands) are imposing restrictions on the breeding of pugs, and the Dutch agriculture minister announced last month that he is planning to ban flat-faced breeds on the grounds of cruelty.
The move by moonpig sounds like a positive way to start educating the general public that these types of deformed dog breeds (where there is physical suffering as a direct result of their morphology) should not be seen as acceptable, but I presume they are still selling images of a range of other breeds with detrimentally extreme features such as dachshunds, breeds with excessive skin rolls, and the bulldogs already mentioned.
There is a group based in Germany and Sweden called the International Retro Pug Club that is trying to breed pugs back to their 'original' form, where their features aren't so exaggerated (so longer legs, a less flat face, a straighter tail). They are subjecting every dog and bitch that they use for breeding to a vigorous vet exam plus x-rays and CT scans to improve the health of the breed. Hopefully their popularity with pug devotees will take off, and the more extreme modern type will be allowed to die out, although I suspect this will only happen if aided by welfare legislation.
Are there any other breed organisations/clubs (not just individual breeders) currently trying to breed out the more extreme physical traits of 'their' breed of dog?
And do people think that the move by Moonpig is a good idea, or something that could snowball into a PETA-type campaign to remove images of dogs completely from products/marketing? Personally I think that companies are aware of the selling power of dogs (and other animals) so unlikely to go to the extent of removing all breeds from their products, but I think it is positive if they avoid the more extreme breeds on welfare grounds.
