Millennials abandon pets they bought for their looks
YOUNG people who buy dogs to look good on social media are starting to abandon the fashionable breeds, animal experts say.
One in 10 millennials choose a dog to post pictures on sites such as Instagram.
Thanks to the rise of famous pets, people are basing their decision to buy on what breeds get the most “likes”, research by Petplan has found.
French bulldogs are the most popular breed on Instagram.
But experts say once people realise the responsibility that comes with having a flat-faced – or brachycephalic – pet, they dump them.
The British Veterinary Association found 56 per cent of brachycephalic dogs will need expensive surgery for breathing problems and eye ulcers.
Teresa Cargill, from Phoenix French Bulldog Rescue, said the charity has seen a 75 per cent rise in the number of dogs being handed over in the last two years.
“Social media sites and reality TV stars have made French bulldogs really fashionable,” she said.
“Reality star couples posing with their ‘fur baby’ on social media get lots of likes, which inspires their impressionable followers to get one.
“Then, a couple of years or even months down the line, they either split up or have a baby and the dog no longer fits in with their lifestyle so they dump it.
“We hardly have any older dogs over the age of five. They are all puppies.”
Vanessa Waddon, from Hope Rescue in Wales, is currently caring for English bulldog puppy Enzo, who was dumped when he was three days old because he had a cleft palate.
Vanessa said: “Dogs with cute, squishy faces are ‘Insta-friendly’ but they also have a host of medical problems.
“Enzo has to be fed through a tube in his nose so food doesn’t go into his lungs, then once he reaches 14 weeks, we hope he will be able to have surgery. He should never have been born like this.”
The British Veterinary Association advises people not to buy flat-faced dogs and has even started a #breedtobreathe campaign.
Millennial celebs with flat-faced dogs include Love Island’s Olivia Buckland,
24, and Alex Bowen, 27, who own French bulldogs Winnie and Reggie.
Other famous fans include presenter Holly Willoughby, who owns French bulldog Benny and singer Lady Gaga, who has three French bulldogs, Koji, Gustave and Asia.