A warning has been issued after thousands of poorly bred dogs have "faces so flat they can't breathe".
Pet charity Blue Cross has vowed to bring an end to the trend of the "horrendously bad breeding of brachycephalic pets" such as French bulldogs, Pugs, and Persian cats. The charity says that the over-popularisation has resulted in an "animal welfare crisis".
The leading charity believes a rise in influencers and big brands advertising the "cute" breeds has resulted in a rise in demand, but thousands of pets are ending up in vets needing urgent treatment for serious health issues.
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Becky Thwaites, Head of Public Affairs at Blue Cross, told the ECHO : "We launched our End the Trend campaign which is about focuses on breeds with flat faces. We want to see an end to the over popularisation of breeds used commonly in advertising.
"They are becoming increasingly illegally imported, being bred poorly in the UK and thousands of these animals are needing medical treatment because their faces are so flat they can't breathe. They are not living happy, healthy lives, their lives are shortened and every breath is a struggle.
"We want to see the law changed to better protect these animals. We want to encourage people to breed brachycephalic breeds with long enough snouts they can live."
Becky went on to say it is "not about banning the breed or cancelling the breed" it is about improving and educating to give these animals a better quality of life. The petition has already been backed by over 15,000 people across the UK.
Becky added: "Something about flat faces that people think is cute, they have got a baby like look. It's a breed that 10 years ago you wouldn't see as regularly as you do now and they are smaller.
"Unfortunately, when something becomes popular you're always going to get those breeders not prioritising the health of a dog, they are just in it to make a quick buck but their noses are so flat they just can't breathe.
"These animals are having to have surgery to ensure their airways are wide enough to get a breath in. We also see issues around their eyes, they don't have proper eye lids so they can't clean them properly or blink properly. Some breeds can't give birth naturally, there are tons of different health issues."
Becky said the charity is seeing thousands of pets coming into hospitals and having to be treated because of the way they have been bred. She is urging those wanting to get a brachycephalic breed to "think carefully".
She said: "Unfortunately, our campaign shows some owners don't understand the health implications, they don't recognise the signs and the issues get so bad before they seek healthcare. It's not about being judgemental, it's about making people more aware so they can seek that care.
"It's about encouraging people to think more carefully if they are to get another pet to get a well-bred one or choose a different breed or a rescue dog with hopefully less medical issues.
"We have been engaging with brands- about not using them in campaigns and engaging with politicians. Legislation has changed recently in other countries like Australia so we urge the government to look at what works and bring it to the UK.
"We are hopeful we will see the changes we want to see. Realistically it will take years but we are committed. We don't want to see poorly bred dogs not living long and healthy lives."
