Animal rights advocates are fuming after an attempt to introduce a ban on breeding ‘flat-faced’ dogs, including French Bulldogs, boxers and Shih Tzus, was blocked.
A motion by Animal Justice party MP Emma Hurst to introduce a ban on the dogs, which often suffer severe health issues and cost unwitting owners thousands in medical costs, was blocked by the NSW government in parliament.
Other breeds likely to be targeted by a possible ban will include King Charles spaniels, pugs, Boston terriers, and British bulldogs.
Ms Hurst slammed the NSW government over the block and said it signalled to breeders they could continue to make money out of the suffering of dogs.
‘This morning the Government objected to my motion to outlaw breeding animals with specific appearances that will cause them a lifetime of suffering,’ she said.
‘So essentially people can continue to breed animals that will suffer as long as someone is making money out of it.’
Objecting to the protection of dogs is a disgusting move by the NSW Government.
Previously, the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) called for breeding and showing bans on any dog with ‘a muzzle length less than a third of its skull length’ because of the suffering caused to the animal.
The dogs with these features are often highly popular, but the impacts are so horrific and painful they are now designated ‘brachycephalic breeds’ because they suffer Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), among many other health issues.
The dogs also commonly experience spinal issues, neurological and eye problems.
For instance it has been shown up to 97 per cent of cavalier King Charles spaniels suffer disorders which can produce severe headaches, vision problems, balance problems, dizziness and even hearing loss.
BOAS causes exhaustion, severe heart conditions, difficulty breathing and walking, and may increase the chance of an early death.
A 2013 study found that dogs affected by BOAS could not walk for more than ten minutes on a 19C day
Ms Hurst vowed to push on with her plan and amend her proposed puppy farm legislation to include the ban.
Her Companion Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms) Bill 2021 has been tabled and is now the subject of an enquiry that is due to be completed in August.
It is uncertain whether any ban would seek to outlaw entire breeds or instead target methods to produce so-called ‘flat-faced’ dogs.
Several veterinary organisations have called for bans on dog breeding to produce short or flat faces, such as bulldogs, boxers, Boston terriers, Shih Tzus and bull mastiffs.
Recently a devoted Sydney dog owner revealed she had spent $200,000 on surgery to fix shocking health issues her pet suffers due to dodgy breeding practices.
Maureen Elvy’s French bulldog called Phoebe has needed spinal, airway and genital surgery, and regular immunotherapy costing $2,000 a treatment since she got the dog in 2017.
Phoebe’s health is so precarious that she is allergic to 700 types of tree, and can only survive with a diet of crocodile meat and a hypoallergenic biscuit.
She cannot play in many Sydney parks because she’s allergic to Couch grass, which is extremely common.