The charity is asking Brits to stop buying bulldogs after taking in sick pooches ‘worst’

Hope Rescue has received ten bulldogs with serious health issues from breeding issues in the last week, and its founder says if things don’t change he will support a total ban on the breed

An animal rights group has asked Brits to stop buying bulldogs after experiencing their “worst” intake of sick pooches.

It’s seen a catalog of breed-related diseases – amid urgent pleas from experts to stop buying trendy dogs.

Hope Rescue said it received ten bulldogs with serious health issues last week – all due to breeding issues.

The founder said if things don’t change, he will support a call to ban the breed altogether.

Two adults and eight puppies were the “worst bred” take of dogs it had ever seen.

New calls from the Royal Veterinary College urged people not to buy flat-faced dogs, including bulldogs.

The college’s research states that urgent action is needed due to the increasing cases of respiratory problems, skin and ear diseases and eye diseases due to breeding.

Many of these illnesses, including Cherry Eye and significant problems with their legs, spine and hips, have been observed in the family taken in by Hope Rescue.

The charity says the dogs’ problems mean they will never lead normal lives, making it harder for them to ever find a loving home.

Hope Rescue founder Vanessa Waddon said: “It’s hard for us not to sympathize with the calls to ban the breed, especially after seeing the horrific state of this recent recording.

“If things don’t change, we will join these calls.

“It is important that buyers do not encourage the breeding of brachycephalic breeds with exaggerated traits and choose breeders who prioritize health over profit.

“We cannot continue to take in these dogs and witness their suffering.”

Hope Rescue, based in Llanharan, Wales, received the ten bulldogs on June 14 after they were confiscated by a local authority in Wales over animal welfare concerns.

The dogs had many health problems as a result of breeding with low welfare and inherent breed-related conditions, the charity said.

These included cherry eye, entropion, reverse corkscrew tails, skin conditions, excessive wrinkles and fine lines, and most worryingly, significant problems with her legs, spine, and hips.

They also have breathing problems due to their flat faces.

Ten new bulldogs joined five other dogs already in the charity’s care due to poor breeding practices and low welfare breeders who prioritize wealth over health.

The health issues that Hope Rescue can “fix” will always only be “improvements”, meaning the animals will never fully function as “normal” dogs and lifelong management will be essential.

This can lead to further problems later when the charity takes these dogs into shelter – possibly risking finding a forever home.

Just a day after the dogs were placed in Hope Rescue’s care, findings from a new study by the Royal Veterinary College have been released suggesting urgent action is needed.

The Royal Veterinary College urges the public to think twice before purchasing a flat-faced breed and advises against breeding and buying animals with extreme configurations.

The college said: “Unfortunately, many of the breed’s problematic traits, such as a very flat face, deep facial skin folds and noisy breathing, are still often perceived by many people as ‘normal’ or even ‘desirable’ innovations – rather than major ones welfare problems.”

The results show that urgent action is needed to reduce the high rate of health problems related to the extreme body shape currently occurring in English bulldogs if the future of the breed is to be protected.

Hope Rescue’s own stance supports this – saying it’s essential for buyers to change their buying behavior or risk this breed continuing to suffer for a lifetime.

The charity says the dogs will now need physical tests, X-rays and surgery, which will likely cost Hope Rescue an estimated £20,000.

Sara Rosser, Director of Animal Welfare, said: “We’re pretty tough at Hope Rescue, but our rescue-hardened hearts were really broken by these dogs.”

She added: “Due to the ongoing cost of living crisis we are finding it difficult to raise funds at this time but if the public could nonetheless help to help us cover our vet bills we would be very grateful.”

To donate or for more information, visit Hope Rescue’s appeal Side.