Tory minister warns against breeding ‘cool’ animals

OWNING and breeding designer dogs such as pugs is “self-indulgent” because of the damaging genetic defects they suffer, a Conservative minister has warned.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble, the environment minister, said people should “respect animals as they are” after peers warned that people are buying the animals because of celebrity social media posts and demanded the Government tell people such pets are “not cool”.

Pets bred to be brachycephalic, with shortened or flat faces, have become increasing popular but the animals often suffer breathing difficulties because their airways are too short and their eyes become easily infected, leading to health problems.

Conservative Lord Black of Brentwood, executive director of Telegraph Media Group, said breeds such as pugs and Scottish fold cats are in “intolerable pain and unable to breathe properly” because of deformation caused by breeding.

Crossbencher and veterinarian Lord Trees claimed that many “well-meaning” people buy the animals thinking they are in their natural state but do not realise they will “suffer ill health and distress throughout their lives”.

Lord Gardiner replied: “We must respect our animals as they are,” adding that it is “self-indulgent to breed animals with genetic defects”.

He told peers the Government will work with interested parties to see how this can be tackled through regulation and has announced plans to clamp down on breeders.

Lord Gardiner also suggested people looking for a new pet should first go to animal re-homing centres, rather than buying puppies online.