Breeding French Bulldogs for show is cruel and inhumane, and the French Bull Dog Club of America is causing it. I have owned French Bulldogs all my life, and there is no question that their square heads and squished faces add to their lovable appearance. Recently, however, my beloved French Bulldog, Tom,  passed away due to health issues. These issues likely could have been avoided had he not been bred to have the excessively flat face many find so appealing. All his life, he suffered due to his lack of ability to breathe normally. His first surgery to aid his breathing was when he was only a puppy when he had to have his nostrils widened and his soft pallet reduced. Since then he has had three more major surgeries. Last year he even underwent a tracheostomy procedure because his airway had collapsed from how he had struggled to breathe all his life.

Soon after his last major surgery, Tom tragically passed away, leaving my family and me devastated. And it is not just Tom. Thousands of other families with brachycephalic dog breeds go through this heartache with their pets every year. These poor animals are essentially born to suffer. It is due to the excess breeding for looks that these helpless animals are forced to struggle all their lives just in order to breathe.

The French Bull Dog Club of America is encouraging breeders to continue their habits of excess breeding by including phrases in the breed standards for French Bulldogs that praise dangerously short muzzles and discourage healthier ones. Some examples being: “The muzzle broad, deep and well laid back; The stop well defined, causing a hollow groove between the eyes with heavy wrinkles forming a soft roll over the extremely short nose; The neck is thick and well arched with loose skin at the throat.”

I understand that these are characteristics that are important to the breed, but phrasing them in such a way is perpetuating an unhealthy standard for the animals that breeders, wanting to produce winning dogs, will undoubtedly adhere to. Updating the breed standards for brachycephalic dog breeds to accept a slightly longer snout would help the quality of life these animals have to improve greatly.

Many French Bulldog lovers will place the blame of health issues on irresponsible breeders rather than the unhealthy nature of the breed itself. However, Tom was purchased from a highly respected and responsible breeder, who has produced other French Bulldogs many of which have gone on to win elite dog shows. The fact of the matter is that regardless of how responsible or respected a French Bulldog breeder may be, the dogs they produce will continue to suffer from these health issues until the FBDCA does something to fix it.

Please sign this petition to help these dogs live the lives they deserve.