02/06/2026
IT'S NOT CUTE IF IT COSTS THEIR LIFE 😔
In one week alone, we made the heartbreaking decision on welfare grounds to put four dogs to sleep, all because of health issues and suffering directly linked to extreme conformation.
Thelma (pictured), a Bulldog, arrived in such severe respiratory distress that she had to be rushed straight to the vets and placed on oxygen. On top of this, she was suffering with chronic skin issues, painful ear infections, and osteoarthritis in her hips, stifles and elbows.
Louise (pictured), a Bulldog, was battling severe brachycephalic airway syndrome (BOAS), inflamed facial folds, chronic skin issues and debilitating osteoarthritis in her hips, stifles and elbows.
Fran, a French Bulldog, had BOAS so severe she could barely draw a full breath. So much so that corrective surgery was not an option. She also had chronic ear damage from repeated infections and a luxating patella.
It was clear that Thelma, Louise and Fran had all been used for breeding multiple times, despite their horrific health conditions. It is very likely that their puppies are now suffering from them too.
Yoda, a French Bulldog, had such horrendous long-standing ear disease that his ear canals had become heavily scarred and impossible to examine. Like the others, his BOAS was too severe for surgery to help.
All four of these dogs had suffered immensely, before presumably being abandoned due to their chronic condition. Unable to exercise without going into respiratory distress or pain. Constantly battling infected skin folds and ears. Unable to live and function as a normal dog should. And all of as a result of being bred to look a certain way - to appeal to buyers who wanted a cute dog rather than a healthy dog.
The emotional toll on our team is enormous, and we know it won't be the last time we face cases like these. Right now, we have 21 English and French Bulldogs in our care, some of them in palliative care. The demand for dogs with extreme conformation – and those breeding them – has caused a crisis in animal welfare, causing immense suffering for the dogs we do our very best to help and placing enormous strain on our capacity, financial resources and the wellbeing of our teams.
We stand with Battersea 's campaign, which is urging people to think twice before liking or sharing content featuring dogs and cats with extreme physical traits, and to celebrate happy, healthy animals instead. It’s also why we support the Innate Health Assessment (IHA) tool, which aims to provide a blueprint for healthy breeding and eliminate the suffering caused to animals from poor breeding practices and extreme conformation. If you're thinking of getting a dog, please use trusted resources like the Innate Health Assessment before making a decision 👉 https://tool.innatehealthassessment.org/buyer-check
🐾 To understand the hidden cost of cute and how we can change it, visit battersea.org.uk/costofcute.
