Selective breeding for extreme physical characteristics has created generations of dogs with chronic, painful health conditions that are entirely human-caused and preventable.
The welfare crisis in brachycephalic breeds is human-created and self-perpetuating: public demand for flat-faced dogs sustains a breeding industry that produces animals guaranteed to suffer throughout their lives. BOAS is not a disease these dogs contract — it is built into their anatomy. Many cannot sleep flat because of breathing difficulty, cannot exercise normally, and require expensive surgery just to achieve a baseline of welfare. Changing consumer preferences and breed standards are the only paths to resolution.