The true of cost of cute

Two thirds (66%) of Brits say a pet’s appearance is important when choosing a dog or cat,  rising to 81% in London, 71% in the North East England and 70% in Northern Ireland.

It follows a trend where increasing numbers of dogs and cats are being bred with extreme features such as flat faces, folded ears and very short legs, driven in part by online trends and wider cultural demand.  These features, often found in popular breeds like English and French Bulldogs, Scottish Folds, and mini Dachshunds are rapidly growing in popularity, but animal welfare charity, Battersea, warns they come at a significant cost to an animal’s health, comfort and quality of life. 

In fact, the new data commissioned by Battersea to coincide with the launch of their ‘Cost of Cute’ campaign, which aims to raise awareness of these very issues –  reflects that prospective pet owners put appearance above factors such as ethical considerations (38%), availability/timing (21%) and recommendations from friends or family (17%) when deciding on a new companion.

Aston spoke to Claire Turner, veterinary surgeon at Battersea.

Photo by Berkay Gumustekin on Unsplash