03/08/2026
You may have spotted us in the press this week, discussing exaggerated physical features in pets.
That's because our data shows a worrying trend of pets with extreme traits coming into our care, needing expensive, invasive procedures for features many people have come to consider 'cute'.
This can't go on - for their sake.
The truth is, snuffly snorts and squashed faces, wrinkly skin and 'corkscrew' tails are causing our pets to suffer, and charities are often left to pick up the pieces when care needs become too high or vet bills spiral.
In the last ten years, we've seen a 3,800% increase in French Bulldogs coming into our care. And it's not just Frenchies, or indeed just dogs, that face problems.
So many different breeds of cats, rabbits, snakes, rodents, birds and even fish suffer when they're bred for looks over health.
This isn't about targeting one breed, or blaming owners. This is about the little changes we can all make to build a better future for our pets.
In a bid to tackle this pet welfare crisis, we've launched a new report, 'The Shape of Suffering', and in this article, its lead author, Scientific and Policy Manager, Ashleigh Brown, takes us through the key findings: https://bit.ly/4wxSj7f
