A dog for life, not just Black Friday

AFTER last year’s peak in Google searches for French and English bulldog puppies during the month of November—with both breeds reaching their highest ever Kennel

Club (KC) registrations

(up 17%)—experts are urging the public to think twice before buying a flatfaced dog in the run up to Christmas. Those little squashed faces may look adorable on social media, but the rise in irresponsible breeding and smuggling puts brachycephalic breeds at risk.

‘Unlike some commodities which are reportedly going to be in short supply this Christmas… puppies are living, sentient creatures and must not be bought on a whim,’ insists Dr Dan O’neill, chairman of the Brachycephalic

Working Group, whose stakeholders include the KC, PDSA, Dogs Trust, RSPCA, the Royal Veterinary College, the University of Cambridge, the British Veterinary Association and Defra. ‘We are particularly worried about rising demand for flat-faced puppies who often suffer from painful health conditions. This demand, spurred in part by the pandemic, coupled with rife puppy farming, rogue breeding and international smuggling of these dogs by profiteering cruel traders, means it’s incredibly difficult to responsibly source one of these dogs at any time of the year… This particular “perfect storm” is worsening an already serious health and welfare crisis for flat-faced dogs.’ Visit www. ukbwg.org.uk