Please stop breeding these poor dogs

[skinnydipper]

25 October 2022. Stephanie Derry on Facebook.

This feels like an impossible post to write, and it’s taken days to even be able to try and put it to words, but the Saturday before last we lost our beautiful Winnie. Winnie came to us back in May, she was due to be PTS after suddenly going off of her back legs, she was eight months old and deserved a chance so we agreed to take her on. Winnie’s list of problems felt neverending but she was incredibly happy and full of life, so Niall and I chipped away getting each issue sorted, both of us nursing and giving her the extra care she needed throughout, and as the weeks and months went by we watched her get better and better. Winnie loved life, she was a ray of sunshine, fun and playful and loving to everyone. She filled the space around her with pure happiness and put a smile on everyone’s face, her issues meant she couldn’t do all that she wanted as a puppy but she never let it get her down, she truly was one in a million. After all these months she was nearly ready to leave us, and despite all her problems we had found her a dream home, one you couldn’t have even imagined, she had won the lottery. So she went to be speyed and have her *second* BOAS surgery. The surgery went well and although her initial recovery was uneventful she was staying in the vets for close monitoring. However, within 24hrs she suddenly went downhill and despite all the best efforts from an amazing team she crashed and was unable to be resuscitated. I can’t remember the last time a death has hit me like this, I don’t have the words to say how deeply deeply devastated I am. To make it worse my paid job as a vet nurse and the fact she was at my practice and I was working that weekend, meant that I was there, involved from start to finish, even while her lifeless body was desperately trying to be revived, and although a part of me is pleased I was with her at the end, the images are hard to get out of my head. The veterinary world is rough at the best of times and despite what people might think losing patients like this isn’t easy, you don’t just switch off and go home, you carry it on your shoulders, and it adds an extra layer to my grief to know that my friends who tried so hard to save her had this weight on them. I’ve spent the last week questioning everything, beating myself up, doubting decisions that I made, replaying and scrutinising everything again and again and again, wondering if this or that may have made a difference, it’s made me question being in rescue, made me question the job that I’ve done for over two decades, and made me feel unbearably low. But the sadness and guilt is now turning into rage, we had no choice, she HAD to have the surgery and this is always the risk, so now the question really is WHY THE HELL are we still breeding dogs that have to have operations for them to breathe? How earth does this make any sense? When did BOAS surgery become so routine? Can someone please explain to me how it is acceptable to breed dogs that then have to be operated on for them to survive??! When I started vet nursing BOAS was almost unheard of, and now at my practice we must do at least one surgery a week, it feels like it’s almost become acceptable, I’ve even heard clients say “oh don’t worry, you can just get that fixed” as if it was no different to a neuter. Winnie was not from a “backyard breeder” she was KENNEL CLUB registered, she had: Cherry eye, Entropian, districhiasis, skin issues, hip dysplasia, chest infections, severe spinal deformities, discospondylitis, she was deaf, and before the first BOAS surgery struggled to breathe with even the slightest exercise. She was a mess, a total genetic freak, but we are still pumping out more and more of these dogs to live at best disabled lives. It is absolutely criminal that this is happening. Winnie was a part of our family for the time she was here and her leaving has had a massive impact on us, I don’t often pour my heart out but I feel like it’s important for people to know what happened to her and for her short life not to be for nothing. Winnie is not the first dog I’ve seen die from complications with BOAS and she won’t be the last, it is so unnecessary and unfair on the veterinary staff that have to care for them, for the rescues who so often have to pick up the pieces and most importantly the dogs who’s life’s are so restricted and affected. To everyone that helped to look after her for these past few months, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And to Winnie, I am so sorry, I’m sorry if I let you down and I’m sorry you were born like this, you deserved so much more, and you nearly made it, but I hope you know you were so so loved.
Enough is enough, we really need to stop breeding these dogs.

 

[skinnydipper]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=659068355803869

 

[skinnydipper]

Dr Kendal Shepherd, Vet and Animal Behaviourist. 31 October 2022

"I have been shocked, saddened and angered by this very eloquent post in equal measure. Winnie was an eight-month-old bulldog when she needed ‘rescuing’. Exactly why she had been discarded is not at present clear. What is abundantly clear is that this bitch was entirely deformed from birth, couldn’t breathe or walk and had been created by artificial selection to suit human (dis)taste. Suffering as she did from the full panoply of defects associated with brachycephaly, some may well say, with justification, that immediate euthanasia would have been the most pragmatic, practical and humane option. Yet the equally understandable human need to save a life, then care for it, prevailed.
And the most horrifying fact of all? That the breeder and the litter from which Winnie came were Kennel Club-registered.
Although the post raises many other questions about the ethical dilemma faced by the veterinary profession and the emotional investment made and toll suffered by rescue staff, I will confine mine to the following:
Has anything been done to inform the Kennel Club about the breeder of this dog? What is the fate of the rest of the litter?
Who is squirting semen up the vagina of bitches who will then no doubt require a Caesar section to produce the lucrative goods? Who is routinely carrying out these Caesars?
And then, possibly more controversially, do people unwittingly or deliberately choose dogs upon which they have to lavish thousands of pounds, first to buy the animal and then keep it alive? Is some grotesquely distorted version of social kudos gained thereby?
WHY ARE WE ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN?
I know everyone has their pet campaign issue and maybe no campaign has a chance of success unless one is entirely one-track minded. But this is an issue which should touch everyone as it reflects the way we, as a society, use and abuse animals. If the dog-buying public cannot see what is in front of their eyes for what it is, an example of quite monstrous genetic mutilation with inhuman, as well as inhumane, results, and in turn question their motives for subscribing to it, then the law must do it for them. No amount of bleating from owners of the ‘lucky’ ones who manage to survive with chronic snoring and exercise intolerance considered normal for the breed or whose BOAS surgery has been successful, should get in the way of this. In any event, I feel such remonstration may simply be masking an underlying feeling of guilt about their undeniable contribution to the problem. ANY dog parading the streets with a screw tail is NOT NORMAL – fact – and their owners must realise that, in doing so, they are simply advertising and spreading the apparent cult status of these deformed dogs.
Whatever freedoms of choice society is supposed to have, deliberately breeding for severe and life-threatening disability in dogs is not one of them."

 

[MurphysMinder]

Poor dog . I can’t argue with her re the breeding, but do think it might have been kinder to pts back in May .

 

[ArklePig]

Poor dog. I don't know how you'd enforce it but this really shouldn't be allowed. I just can't imagine what pleasure one would have from owning a dog who can't breathe, let alone all the other issues poor Winnie had.

 

[Clodagh]

The KC couldn’t give a flying rats backside about the health of anything as long as it generates income. They are a despicable organisation.
Anyone who owns or admires dogs that can’t breathe are truly unbalanced. To breed them, outright cruelty.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Even if the KC were somehow forced to start regulating breeding of brachy dogs (let’s not forget the cats, rabbits and horses bred to satisfy the flat or seahorse look), it would simply force it underground. Look at PLH3’s post re the random covering of multiple bitches in a bloody park! I think making breeding brachycephalic animals illegal might be helpful. An ad campaign showing the cruelty might help.

Watching adverts yesterday, I thought using such types on TV should immediately be made illegal. Trouble is, it’s the idiocy of the general public slavishly following trends that has brought us to this position. You can’t educate stupid.

 

[Cortez]

Nothing one can really say except of course it is wrong to breed dogs like this. I absolutely adore pugs having known several charming little characters, but I will never own one as encouraging the breeding of deformed animals is repugnant. This is nothing new, however. There have been calls for "something to be done" about a litany of genetic issues in many breeds for years, but as long as people continue to buy and dogs win in the showring nothing will happen.

 

[Smitty]

This sort of thing needs to be published by the daily papers. It will not make much difference though I fear as these dogs are fashionable and people make money from breeding and selling them.and I sure the people who buy them couldn't give a rats arse either, as long as they look cute/funny in whatever stupid outfit they dress the poor animal in for social media photos

 

[SOS]

Watching adverts yesterday, I thought using such types on TV should immediately be made illegal. Trouble is, it’s the idiocy of the general public slavishly following trends that has brought us to this position. You can’t educate stupid.

Not quite law but here’s some campaigns to do with this very issue

The BVA have a campaign for this along with a letter vets can send to companies:https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/breed-to-breathe-campaign/

However in 2018 when this launched there was also a movie called “Patrick” (which I have never seen) which featured a pug as the main character.

The Blue Cross also has #endthetrend which is a campaign to get major brands to opt out of advertisements with brachys in.

If anyone has a spare half an hour:
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/who-are-we-asking-to-end-the-trend

 

[KittenInTheTree]

I have no idea who these people are, but it says that the dog was brought to them in May, in order to be euthanised after going off her back legs. Why was she then put through five more months of additional suffering, and whose idea was it?

 

[misst]

It is heartbreaking to see such a lovely dog try so hard to enjoy life. For as long as people will buy them I guess people will continue to breed them. I have no idea why anyone would want a dog that cannot breathe or walk but I do understand why people take them on and try to offer something resembling normality.

My rehome has some behavioral problems and some skeletal deformities which I have no doubt will shorten his life. He should probably have not been rescued from the streets of Spain and shipped to England where he was unwanted but he was, and now we have him. He is a walking vet bill but we love him. I would never have paid for him or bought him from a breeder. He will not have endless treatments as he does not cope with vets so when the librella stops working he will be PTS.

There is a dog for rescue on pro dogs - a daxie puppy who is unable to walk and will need to go out in a pram for the rest of his life. This is a puppy the breeder could not sell. Another puppy the same age is also available - also a daxie - with severe heart problems. I suspect they are from the same breeder/litter. Both of these, in my opinion should be PTS but someone will take them on with good intentions :-(.

Until people only pay for puppies from health tested parents and breeders start putting dogs who would not sell out of their misery this will continue.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Poor dog . I can’t argue with her re the breeding, but do think it might have been kinder to pts back in May .

It's uncomfortable but I have to agree and unfortunately think conversations around euthanasia need to be more openly had. I cannot get on board with save or rescue at all costs regardless of quality of life.

It's a tricky/sore subject for me. A good friend has a brachy breed. I was surprised when they told me they were getting this kind of dog. I hope it will be healthy but each time I look at it I just think wtaf. Nose rope, no/corkscrewed tail, has to have skin folds cleaned all the time, something going on with the eyes (look to big?), most recent pic shows the underbite has become much more pronounced as he's got bigger (lower canines permanently pushed against upper outer lips/muzzle which I am sure will probably get sore eventually), stomach problems, snoring, some kind of nasal infection. It's not a year old yet. I love my friend dearly but I cannot get my head around it and I just don't know how to respond to things like 'he's poorly again', 'the insurance is so expensive' etc. I just try to be understanding they love their dog and hope they keep him well as possible and make the right call if they can't. I think that's all I can do.

 

[Clodagh]

l
Until people only pay for puppies from health tested parents and breeders start putting dogs who would not sell out of their misery this will continue.

I wonder what HT they recommend for, say, French bulldogs. I would suggest a 15 minute brisk lead walk would not be unreasonable. Poor things.

 

[misst]

I've just looked on pro dogs (why?? I have no idea) and Hooper the deformed daxie who can go out in a pram is still up for rehoming as are several bulldogs and french bull dogs one of whom has a cleft pallet and the others have had BOAS surgery and one has still got laryngeal collapse. Surely the money spent by this rescue could be better spent?
I am not anti just Pro dogs, my daughters daxie x jrt came from them and is a healthy little dog who had an unfortunate start with my daughter being her 4th home in 12 months but at least there were no obvious physical issues with her. Some of the dogs on there look very nice but this rescuing at all costs is crazy in every way, the breeders have taken no responsibility for them at all.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Poor dog . I can’t argue with her re the breeding, but do think it might have been kinder to pts back in May .

I absolutely agree. Whenever I see extreme surgery, particularly rescues, I just think end the suffer, why is someone putting the poor animal through this and wouldn’t the money be better spent potentially helping multiple healthy animals? Bad me, but if I see a sob story about helping a poorly bred animal, I’d far rather it’s suffering were ended.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Unfortunately, we are living in a world that appears to promote fixing body image and perceived defects. Everything and anything is deemed possible, and disability is to be embraced. Hmmm. In the animal welfare world, just because you can doesn't always mean you should. I was a registered veterinary nurse years ago, and the attitude then was very much that if surgery could give a normal quality of life, then it was worth doing - normal being classed as behaving exactly like any other similar animal.

 

[Dexter]

Insurance companies need to stop covering these things and that will soon stop people buying them.

 

[SadKen]

I’m sorry to say but there is the potential value of the pity pound and publicity for rescues in a tragic cute young dog in a wheelchair. And don’t underestimate the social credits and attention (plus the feel good factor) for being the only one to want to take on the dog to stop it being put to sleep.

you may think I’m unnecessarily skeptical and jaded (or maybe worse words) but I’m highly logical and can see the black side of these stories. In fact when balanced against the paramount importance of animal welfare, it’s all I can see - humans putting animals through suffering for their own selfish reasons.

if society as a whole really loved animals, it wouldn’t breed defective ones deliberately. It wouldn’t give money to those who do. It wouldn’t make defective animals desirable through media. It wouldn’t promote them in dog shows. It wouldn’t make a virtue out of keeping an animal alive and suffering. Yet here we are.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I’m sorry to say but there is the potential value of the pity pound and publicity for rescues in a tragic cute young dog in a wheelchair. And don’t underestimate the social credits and attention (plus the feel good factor) for being the only one to want to take on the dog to stop it being put to sleep.

you may think I’m unnecessarily skeptical and jaded (or maybe worse words) but I’m highly logical and can see the black side of these stories. In fact when balanced against the paramount importance of animal welfare, it’s all I can see - humans putting animals through suffering for their own selfish reasons.

if society as a whole really loved animals, it wouldn’t breed defective ones deliberately. It wouldn’t give money to those who do. It wouldn’t make defective animals desirable through media. It wouldn’t promote them in dog shows. It wouldn’t make a virtue out of keeping an animal alive and suffering. Yet here we are.

All of this.

 

[Highmileagecob]

And TV programmes like Supervet need taking off air. As above, please stop promoting this 'must be saved at any cost' attitude that seems prevalent, and start to consider a normal life for the animal. They can't sit in a rocking chair doing crossword puzzles for the rest of their days.

 

[ester]

Even if the KC were somehow forced to start regulating breeding of brachy dogs (let’s not forget the cats, rabbits and horses bred to satisfy the flat or seahorse look), it would simply force it underground. Look at PLH3’s post re the random covering of multiple bitches in a bloody park! I think making breeding brachycephalic animals illegal might be helpful. An ad campaign showing the cruelty might help.

Watching adverts yesterday, I thought using such types on TV should immediately be made illegal. Trouble is, it’s the idiocy of the general public slavishly following trends that has brought us to this position. You can’t educate stupid.

Fwiw it’s illegal for some breeds now I think in Austria, Switzerland and Germany, they use the term ‘torture breeding’

 

[fiwen30]

And TV programmes like Supervet need taking off air. As above, please stop promoting this 'must be saved at any cost' attitude that seems prevalent, and start to consider a normal life for the animal. They can't sit in a rocking chair doing crossword puzzles for the rest of their days.

On a related note, my colleague came back into work yesterday, 4 days early from her week off, because she couldn’t stand being at home - her parent’s dog had been hit by a car at the weekend. I didn’t ask how a Lhasa Apso manage to get under the wheels of a car.

The poor thing has both back legs broken, and a pelvis shattered in 4 places, among other injuries. Their practice vet basically refused to touch the dog or give any comment, and referred them to a specialist surgeon at another practice.

It had it’s pelvis stabilised with some sort of compound for a couple of days, while they waited to see if the dog’s bladder was still viable. From what I know, the dog went under for an operation to try and plate the pelvis back together this morning. The bill is sitting at over 7k.

Her parents are the type to just keep throwing money, whereas my colleague is equally heartbroken, but would’ve had the dog PTS after assessment of the damage.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

On a related note, my colleague came back into work yesterday, 4 days early from her week off, because she couldn’t stand being at home - her parent’s dog had been hit by a car at the weekend. I didn’t ask how a Lhasa Apso manage to get under the wheels of a car.

The poor thing has both back legs broken, and a pelvis shattered in 4 places, among other injuries. Their practice vet basically refused to touch the dog or give any comment, and referred them to a specialist surgeon at another practice.

It had it’s pelvis stabilised with some sort of compound for a couple of days, while they waited to see if the dog’s bladder was still viable. From what I know, the dog went under for an operation to try and plate the pelvis back together this morning. The bill is sitting at over 7k.

Her parents are the type to just keep throwing money, whereas my colleague is equally heartbroken, but would’ve had the dog PTS after assessment of the damage.

That’s very difficult. Jake had 2 tplos and was back up to speed within a couple of months. It was ‘only’ cruciates, routine. Would I try to keep my dog going had i been in a similar situation as you describe? Possibly, despite what I said earlier about not wanting a dog to suffer etc. When it’s your own, I think you would try anything to save a much loved dog. However, 2 broken legs, possibly impacted bladder and a smashed up pelvis and I think I would make the call. ? I’d be thinking of the future, viability of movement, arthritic changes.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Cinnamontoast you are right. There is a world of difference between yes we can fix it and a dog or cat leading a normal life afterwards.

 

[fiwen30]

That’s very difficult. Jake had 2 tplos and was back up to speed within a couple of months. It was ‘only’ cruciates, routine. Would I try to keep my dog going had i been in a similar situation as you describe? Possibly, despite what I said earlier about not wanting a dog to suffer etc. When it’s your own, I think you would try anything to save a much loved dog. However, 2 broken legs, possibly impacted bladder and a smashed up pelvis and I think I would make the call. ? I’d be thinking of the future, viability of movement, arthritic changes.

It is hard. My own lad had a TPLO 2.5 years ago, and while he recovered and rehabbed well, I pray to everything that he’ll not need the other doing in his lifetime.

I don’t disagree that a TPLO is major surgery, but with injuries as severe as this little dog, I think I would’ve made the call, too.

It’s not a position I envy.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I think Noel Fitzpatrick has done some amazing pioneering work, but I do think some of his procedures are a step too far. My youngest heeler had some Super vet type surgery as a pup to correct a limb deformity. It involved his ulna being cut and a metal piece being inserted. I thought long and hard about going ahead, vet didn't pressure me and assured me that as long as I followed rehab strictly he would lead an active life afterwards, without surgery he would need to lead a fairly sedentary life. I was concerned about the 6 weeks crate rest for an 8 month old pup, but long story short he coped well and after physio and hydrotherapy, just 12 months after the op he won a 2nd and 4th at his first agility competition.
Having said all that, if a dog of mine had the injuries as described by fiwen30 I would probably pts, I would imagine the dog wouldn't be able to move for several weeks, never mind possible issues with bladder etc.