Animal welfare relevant breeds

In the past, we humans bred animals to make our daily lives easier. They were selected according to performance. A breeding is a controlled reproduction with the aim to strengthen or to make disappear desired characteristics. Nowadays the appearance plays a role. Animals are bred in all sizes and colours and this is where the problem starts. Because the breed standards accept sick animals in order to breed animals that look as cute as possible. The childlike scheme is well received by many people because it awakens mother feelings in them, but extreme animal suffering is accepted in return.

In the animal protection law it is clearly noted that animals which have for e.g. breathlessness, movement anomalies, hairlessness, deformities and so on show may not be bred, acquired, imported, mediated or exhibited if they are exposed to pain, suffering, damage or fear. Unfortunately, this is formulated too vaguely, which is why the authorities have problems to prosecute torture breeding legally.

Respiratory distress

Brachycephalic (short and round head) breeds in which the skull is hereditary deformed. They suffer from brachycephalic syndrome. Through shortened nose-walks and narrowed nose-openings, the animals can hardly breathe; through too short pharyngeal-areas, tongue, palate and almonds have no place, the palate-sail is too thick and shifts the airways, also the tracheal-collapse is typical, with which the trachea collapses.

Physical impairments

Congenital taillessness or stump rods impair not only the gait but also the body language. Hanging eyelids lead to chronic eye inflammation, heavy lips and too long ears impair movement. For example, the Basset Hound with a body height of only 34-38 cm should carry a weight of approx. 25 kg without any health problems?

Back problems and slipped discs are probably inevitable. Lameness and movement anomalies occur when the weight can no longer be carried by the bones. Also dwarf or giant growth breeds suffer from hip joint dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, osteochondrosis, patella luxation, spondylosis and Co as typical clinical pictures of these breeds.

The King charles spaniel for example has too little space in the skull for the brain, the brain water cannot flow off via the spinal cord. It is blocked, accumulates and leads to a hydrocephalus. The strong pressure makes strong pains, neurological failures and much more, one calls this Syringomyelie.

The skull bones of miniature breeds are also wafer-thin and do not grow together completely (open fontanel). Teacup dogs often suffer from liver shunts. Toy animals fight with breathing difficulties, heart defects, circulatory problems, dental and jaw anomalies, fragile bones, …

Giant breeds struggle with heart defects, bone and joint problems, cancer, low life expectancy, digestive problems, …

Exophthalmus

The sweet-looking globe eyes often stand further forward than the snout. This leads to increased vulnerability, watery and inflamed eyes and even eyeballs falling out. This is extremely painful and can lead to blindness.

Inflammations of the skin and hairlessness

Inflammations occur again and again, especially due to extreme wrinkling. Hairless animals suffer from cold and quickly get sunburned. Since hairlessness is a genetic defect, the mating of two nude animals leads to the death of the embryos in the womb. Incomplete or missing teeth are also a consequence of the nude gene. Some animals even lack the tactile and cord hair which inhibits the sense of orientation. Also the body language is strongly impaired by many folds or missing fur.

No natural birth

In some breeds the puppies do not even fit through the mother’s pelvis and have to be born by caesarean section. Natural procreation is also no longer possible in many cases, as males are too compact and strong to jump on females.

What can you do against torture breeding?

The question is to what extent such breeding is ethically justifiable. Can humans, just because they like it, breed in such a way that animals suffer? Because even an animal with shortness of breath would, by nature, like to run with the others and play only it does not allow its anatomy. That frustrates in the long run. If only healthy animals were used for breeding, there would be the danger of inbreeding. Since there are too few animals without e.g. hip joint dysplasia (HD), one may officially continue breeding with a diagnosed HD of stage B and C (transitional form to mild).

As long as you buy torment breeds, they will also be bred. It is therefore necessary to create an awareness of this, because the animals do not have the choice with whom they mate. According to the law, these animals may no longer be bred. Please consider carefully whether you are taking a family member at the expense of the animal, who violates the Animal Welfare Act, suffers, has pain, cannot live a species-appropriate life, and you always have to pay high veterinarian bills.

Typical torment breeds:

Dog:

Every animal is a living being and should be treated like this. Don’t do to others what you don’t like either.