Policy document – Dog Breeding Practices Must Change: Welfare Cost of Cuteness

The policy document, “Dog Breeding Practices Must Change: Welfare Cost of Cuteness“, highlights the urgent need to reform unethical dog breeding practices that prioritize aesthetics over animal welfare. Authored by Professor Clare Rusbridge, it underscores the widespread suffering caused by inbreeding and exaggerated physical traits, particularly in breeds like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and other brachycephalic dogs. The report advocates for legislative changes, crossbreeding programs, and an overhaul of breed standards to prioritize health and genetic diversity. Drawing on research from the University of Surrey, it exposes how these practices contravene the Animal Welfare Act (2006) and contribute to serious health issues such as Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia. The document calls for collaboration between policymakers, breeders, and veterinarians to address these challenges. Featured in The Guardian, discussed on Radio 5 Live (June 3, 2024), and showcased in a Sky News interview (June 4, 2024), the report has sparked significant dialogue across social media and beyond, emphasizing its importance in shaping the future of dog breeding.