As featured in Pets Magazine September
Laura Alwen, Rehoming & Welfare Manager at Battersea, explains why choosing a healthy pet must come before choosing a fashionable one.
“At Battersea we believe that rescue is best when it comes to bringing a new dog of any age into your life, but if you are set on buying one, it’s vital that you do your research and find a reputable breeder where the dogs and puppies are well cared for.
“There are a lot of questions you should ask a breeder before taking a puppy home. One crucial question is to ask about the health of not only the puppy but the parents too, so that you can be confident that you are getting a new pet that has been ethically bred and had the best start in life to hopefully go on to live a long and happy life by your side.”
It is sensible advice at a time when what makes a pet desirable can increasingly be shaped by what looks good on a screen.
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has recruited a rather glamorous squad to make the point, with Vicky Pattison, Tasha Ghouri, Yasmin Pettet, Faye Winter, Max Balegde and Pandora Christie collaborating on a limited-edition fashion collection challenging demand for cats and dogs with extreme physical features.
The Y2K-inspired T-shirts, caps and tote bags come emblazoned with slogans including “Hot girls just want healthy pets”, “Pets aren’t a fashion accessory” and the brutally succinct “Cute but struggling”.
Behind the fun is a serious message. Battersea research suggests Gen Z and Millennials are significantly more likely to favour pets with exaggerated features such as flat faces, bulging eyes, folded ears and excessive skin folds, with social media and popular culture helping to shape perceptions of what cats and dogs should look like.
Those features can come at a considerable cost to the animal, leaving some struggling to breathe, move, play and live normally.
TikTok and Celebrity Gogglebox star Max Balegde, whose slogan is “Cute but struggling”, recently became a dog owner himself.
“Social media can be brilliant for bringing animal lovers together, but it can also fuel demand for pets with extreme features without showing the health problems they often face. They might be cute, but they are indeed struggling, and this fashion line is all about encouraging people to put pets’ health first,” he said.
For French Bulldog owner Jennifer, that hidden cost has been painfully real. Her dog Lily underwent her first operation at only 16 months and has since required multiple surgeries, while experiencing breathing problems, spinal issues, eye ulcers and chronic reflux.
“I love the look of French Bulldogs and to be honest, I didn’t realise how bad things were,” Jennifer said.
She has now spent more than £40,000 on veterinary treatment, but says “no amount of health insurance or money can take away (Lily’s) suffering”.
Battersea says it sees animals entering rescue when loving owners can no longer manage substantial veterinary bills or care needs arising from the way their pets have been bred.
Its message is simple: trends come and go. The animals living with their consequences cannot.
The Battersea collection is available online until 15 September, with all proceeds helping the charity’s dogs and cats.
Sponsored by Ruff Retreat, the home of curated sustainable dog products.
