Pugs are a popular breed
(Picture: Shutterstock)A leading pet charity has called for measures to stop some people from breeding flat-faced dog breeds like French bulldogs and pugs over their health issues.
The Blue Cross has accused breeders of a “vicious cycle of over-breeding”, causing the flat-faced breeds to have serious health problems.
It is now calling for both legislative and non-legislative action to stamp out “poor breeding,” as some of the animals are not living “fully and happy lives”, reported the Sun.
The charity’s Head of Public Affairs, Becky Thwaites, said it was lobbying MPs to bring an end to the “wellbeing crisis”.
She said: “We have already started contacting MPs.
“Ultimately Blue Cross is determined to see the end of the poor breeding of flat faced dogs and are considering all options both legislative and non-legislative to achieve this.”
Ms Thwaites told the publication the charity “don’t want to ban the breed,” but it did “want healthier breeds”.
Blue Cross is campaigning for breeders in the UK to be required to have certification issued by vets that their flat-faced pets don’t have any health issues that could be passed down when breeding, like in Australia.
Flatter-faced breeds have grown in popularity in the UK in recent years, with the Kennel Club reporting a 2,747 per cent rise in the number of French bulldogs registered since 2004.
Other popular breeds of the flat-faced dogs in the UK, called brachycephalic by vets, include English bulldogs, Boston terriers, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, shih tzus and boxers.
While not all of the short-nosed dogs will suffer from health problems relating to breeding, many do, said the charity, who said their vet hospital teams are treating more and more dogs for health problems.
These can include breathing problems, heart problems and teeth problems.
