Breeding "Exotic Bullies" is inhumane and should be banned
Breeding "Exotic Bullies" is inhumane and should be banned
The Issue
Last night, while working as a vet assistant in my hospital's ER, a one year old dog came in suffering from heat stroke and trouble breathing. Now it was over 90 degrees that day so you might say thats not all that uncommon. However, this dog in particular was what is most commonly known as an "exotic bully". They are what I can only describe as breeding different types of bulldogs together for the most extreme and ridiculous traits to make the largest profit.
The health of the dog is never the main concern for these breeders. It isn't a priority whatsoever. Who cares if the dog struggles to breathe every second of its life and tongue turns purple just from positioning its head in the wrong direction? Or if it can not walk correctly and sufferers from hip dysplasia and bowed front and back legs to the point of essentially dragging around their rear ends? Or if they can't give birth naturally because their hips are too small and heads too big? Certainly not these breeders. You can't possibly claim they do when most don't live past 5 years of age. (Theres a reason most don't even bother getting the BOAS surgery to help them breathe easier.)
What I saw last night was nothing short of horrific and it infuriated me deeply in my core. I watched as this dog laid on that exam table gasping for breathe for hours, to being transferred to an O2 cage, just to eventually need to be completely intubated. "He's always breathed poorly." Said the multiple owners about what I can only refer to as "their investment" considering the reason it had heat stroke in the first place was because it was outside being bred with another dog. All for puppies that can be sold for an upwards of ten thousand dollars each.
When it became clear that what this dog needed was to be put on a ventilator to heal its airway, a vet bill that would ultimately cost them an average of 10-11 thousand dollars, they opted to take him home risking another serious airway obstruction if not death. While paying their bill, they allegedly were chatting about buying a different dog for their breeding program. Perhaps with the money they saved by deciding not to give the dog they already had proper medical care?
I know this is just one example but if you look up these unethical breeders online you start to see so many parallels. These dogs are nothing more then potential profits to them. 'Status symbols' at best. This is turning animal abuse into an egregious side hustle and they couldn't be more proud of it. Just look at all of their instagram posts flaunting just how much money they've made. I shouldn't have to state the obvious but reputable breeders don't do that.
It also should be noted that almost all of the exotic bullies you see online are owned by breeders who pass them around their inner community. When those resources run dry they start selling to Chinese and Korean markets where the scene is large there as well. It is one big pyramid puppy mill scheme. The ones on top promote this lifestyle and their wealth in hopes you'll buy in to the get rich quick narrative and purchase a ten thousand dollar dog from them or in the very least its 'reproductive material'... that they collect by hand. On a daily basis.
Right in the introduction of Europe's Responsible Dog Breeding Guidelines it states, "Poor breeding practices have profoundly detrimental effects on dog welfare and on the well-being of owners (Croney 2019). The consequences of poor breeding practices may lead to a lifetime of suffering, through poor health and poor suitability as pets, resulting in an untimely death, abandonment or relinquishment. Breeders, legislators, competent authorities, veterinarians, and owners have an ethical responsibility to work together to ensure dogs live a good life."
We have an ethical responsibility to stop these people from bringing more dogs into this world to suffer for their financial gain.
And in section two, Principles of responsible breeding, "A responsible dog breeder: Respects the intrinsic value of dogs- Demonstrates a genuine concern for the welfare of dogs and their future generations. Avoids breeding from banned breeds and their hybrids, animals that are closely related, or with inherited disorders, or exaggerated features that compromise welfare."
"Seeks information on the breed at population level and guidance on how to maintain genetic variance of a population- Demonstrates an understanding of the detrimental effects to the health of future puppies (and population) through inbreeding and avoids the over-use of popular sires and their relatives."
Thats exactly the opposite of what these breeders are doing. Not only are they breeding the "exaggerated features that compromise welfare" but they are also publicly bragging online about how many litters their dog have sired. The more the better is their philosophy.
Right now there is nothing stoping these people from committing these atrocious acts of animal cruelty. There are no laws prohibiting it and from what I've found, not a whole lot of online backlash either or articles written about it. They flaunt their severely disfigured dogs and tons of people find it cute. Spoiler alert, those dogs are dying agonizing deaths at a very young age. I do not find suffering adorable and neither should you.
Please consider helping try put to an end to this perverse culture of dog breeding and the genetic monstrosity that has come out of it by signing this petition.
375
The Issue
Last night, while working as a vet assistant in my hospital's ER, a one year old dog came in suffering from heat stroke and trouble breathing. Now it was over 90 degrees that day so you might say thats not all that uncommon. However, this dog in particular was what is most commonly known as an "exotic bully". They are what I can only describe as breeding different types of bulldogs together for the most extreme and ridiculous traits to make the largest profit.
The health of the dog is never the main concern for these breeders. It isn't a priority whatsoever. Who cares if the dog struggles to breathe every second of its life and tongue turns purple just from positioning its head in the wrong direction? Or if it can not walk correctly and sufferers from hip dysplasia and bowed front and back legs to the point of essentially dragging around their rear ends? Or if they can't give birth naturally because their hips are too small and heads too big? Certainly not these breeders. You can't possibly claim they do when most don't live past 5 years of age. (Theres a reason most don't even bother getting the BOAS surgery to help them breathe easier.)
What I saw last night was nothing short of horrific and it infuriated me deeply in my core. I watched as this dog laid on that exam table gasping for breathe for hours, to being transferred to an O2 cage, just to eventually need to be completely intubated. "He's always breathed poorly." Said the multiple owners about what I can only refer to as "their investment" considering the reason it had heat stroke in the first place was because it was outside being bred with another dog. All for puppies that can be sold for an upwards of ten thousand dollars each.
When it became clear that what this dog needed was to be put on a ventilator to heal its airway, a vet bill that would ultimately cost them an average of 10-11 thousand dollars, they opted to take him home risking another serious airway obstruction if not death. While paying their bill, they allegedly were chatting about buying a different dog for their breeding program. Perhaps with the money they saved by deciding not to give the dog they already had proper medical care?
I know this is just one example but if you look up these unethical breeders online you start to see so many parallels. These dogs are nothing more then potential profits to them. 'Status symbols' at best. This is turning animal abuse into an egregious side hustle and they couldn't be more proud of it. Just look at all of their instagram posts flaunting just how much money they've made. I shouldn't have to state the obvious but reputable breeders don't do that.
It also should be noted that almost all of the exotic bullies you see online are owned by breeders who pass them around their inner community. When those resources run dry they start selling to Chinese and Korean markets where the scene is large there as well. It is one big pyramid puppy mill scheme. The ones on top promote this lifestyle and their wealth in hopes you'll buy in to the get rich quick narrative and purchase a ten thousand dollar dog from them or in the very least its 'reproductive material'... that they collect by hand. On a daily basis.
Right in the introduction of Europe's Responsible Dog Breeding Guidelines it states, "Poor breeding practices have profoundly detrimental effects on dog welfare and on the well-being of owners (Croney 2019). The consequences of poor breeding practices may lead to a lifetime of suffering, through poor health and poor suitability as pets, resulting in an untimely death, abandonment or relinquishment. Breeders, legislators, competent authorities, veterinarians, and owners have an ethical responsibility to work together to ensure dogs live a good life."
We have an ethical responsibility to stop these people from bringing more dogs into this world to suffer for their financial gain.
And in section two, Principles of responsible breeding, "A responsible dog breeder: Respects the intrinsic value of dogs- Demonstrates a genuine concern for the welfare of dogs and their future generations. Avoids breeding from banned breeds and their hybrids, animals that are closely related, or with inherited disorders, or exaggerated features that compromise welfare."
"Seeks information on the breed at population level and guidance on how to maintain genetic variance of a population- Demonstrates an understanding of the detrimental effects to the health of future puppies (and population) through inbreeding and avoids the over-use of popular sires and their relatives."
Thats exactly the opposite of what these breeders are doing. Not only are they breeding the "exaggerated features that compromise welfare" but they are also publicly bragging online about how many litters their dog have sired. The more the better is their philosophy.
Right now there is nothing stoping these people from committing these atrocious acts of animal cruelty. There are no laws prohibiting it and from what I've found, not a whole lot of online backlash either or articles written about it. They flaunt their severely disfigured dogs and tons of people find it cute. Spoiler alert, those dogs are dying agonizing deaths at a very young age. I do not find suffering adorable and neither should you.
Please consider helping try put to an end to this perverse culture of dog breeding and the genetic monstrosity that has come out of it by signing this petition.
375
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Petition created on August 5, 2022