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Vegan activists from animal rights charity PETA have taken to the streets to protest the world’s largest dog show Crufts.
The campaigners donned lab coats to represent ‘evil scientists’ as they stood in Birmingham’s city center holding signs saying ‘Breeding Pedigree Dogs Is Mad Science’, and ‘Crufts Is a Frankenstein Show’.
According to the charity, its action ‘serves as a reminder that the dogs displayed at the event are bred by humans to have ridiculous, exaggerated physical features that can have devastating health consequences’.
‘Crippling genetic defects’
“Breeders’ obsession with arbitrary physical characteristics causes dogs to suffer from painful and crippling genetic defects,” PETA Director, Elisa Allen, said in a statement.
“Crufts is a twisted celebration of genetically manipulated animals who have difficulty breathing or walking, and PETA encourages everyone who cares about dogs to steer clear of it.”
PETA added: “Breeding pedigree dogs in abnormal shapes and sizes leaves them genetically predisposed to suffering from epilepsy, heart disease, deafness, hip dysplasia, and numerous other health problems. Many bulldogs, pugs, Pekingese, and other brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs can’t breathe well – let alone go for a walk or chase a ball without gasping for air – because of their unnaturally shortened airways.”
