12/06/2025
A landmark ruling!
🐾 A Historic Win for Dog Welfare in the Netherlands! 🇳🇱🐶
"Short-nosed pedigree dogs can finally breathe a sigh of relief."
On June 4, 2025, the Amsterdam District Court ruled that the Dutch kennel club, Raad van Beheer, must stop issuing pedigrees for 25 flat-faced dog breeds unless there is proof of legal, welfare-compliant breeding.
These breeds — including French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Shih Tzus, and more — are often bred with excessively short snouts, causing lifelong health issues like:
🔹 Breathing difficulties
🔹 Eye and dental diseases
🔹 Skin fold infections
🔹 Hernias and birthing complications
📣 “That pedigree wrongly gives buyers the idea that they are buying a healthy dog,” said Dr. Kelly Kessen from Dier&Recht, the animal rights organization that filed the complaint.
From now on:
✔ Pedigrees can only be issued if both parent dogs meet minimum muzzle-length standards, confirmed by a vet.
❌ If they don't, no pedigree will be granted.
💶 A fine of €2,500 per unlawful pedigree will be enforced.
This landmark ruling sets a new legal and ethical precedent and we hope it will inspire similar action across Europe to protect the health and welfare of dogs over harmful appearance-based breeding.
📄 Full verdict (PDF):https://www.dierenrecht.nl/sites/default/files/2025-06/vonnis.pdf
📢 Press release: https://www.dierenrecht.nl/persberichten/rechtbank-verbiedt-misleidende-stamboomhandel
🛑 It's time to put health before looks — no dog should suffer for fashion.
