People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals filed a state lawsuit Tuesday in New York against the American Kennel Club in hope of forcing the influential group to ditch breeding standards that PETA alleged lead to “deformed, unhealthy” canines.
PETA specifically targeted some of the most popular breeds of man’s best friend — bulldogs, French bulldogs, pugs, dachshunds and the Chinese shar-pei.
Plaintiffs asked Manhattan Supreme Court to stop the AKC from backing these standards that alleged “cause deformities, great suffering and premature death” to these animals.
The AKC said that it did not “create breed standards” and that it instead works to ensure the classifications “are clear, consistent, and continue to reflect the breed’s health, function, and type.”
“The AKC has been — and remains — firmly committed to the health, well-being, and proper treatment of all dogs,” it said in a statement.
“We categorically reject PETA’s mischaracterizations of specific breed standards and their assertion that these standards create unhealthy dogs.”
The targeted breeds include unique features such as short, upturned or flat noses seen on the faces of bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs.
The short-legged elongated bodies of dachshunds and unique skin folds of the Chinese shar-pei may bring smiles and approving nods in homes, dog walk parks, animal shelters and pet stores across America, but PETA advocates claim the human smiles come at a terrible cost to the dogs.
The French bulldog is the AKC’s most popular breed, with short noses and other facial and mouth “distortions” and “deformities” that “give rise to a chronic, debilitating, respiratory syndrome,” according to the lawsuit. PETA says the bulldog’s large skull and “short-faced head” are “distortions of the normal structures of the face, mouth and airway,” which “all contribute to the obstruction of airflow and severely impede breathing.” The dachshund’s low-to-the-ground body and tiny legs are the “animal equivalent of a poorly designed bridge,” which cause backaches and “significant needless pain and suffering,” according to PETA. The lawsuit says that in addition to their pressed faces, pugs have prominent eyes with “unnaturally shallow eye sockets,” which “interfere with their ability to blink and spread tears across their eyes,” leading to “extremely painful conditions.” The Chinese shar-pei is known for its unique skin folds, which are “highly prone to infection and inflammation,” leading to “lifelong discomfort, irritation, infection and pain,” according to PETA.
The AKC counters that the “health and welfare of dogs are paramount and at the core of our mission.”
“AKC advocates that all dogs be bred to produce healthy, well-adjusted companions. AKC remains proud of its legacy and resolute in its mission to protect the health, heritage, and well-being of purebred dogs — now and into the future.”
