PETA to Torture ‘Dachshund’ to Show Result of Westminster Breeders’ Greed
For Immediate Release:
May 13, 2024
Contact:
Sara Groves 202-483-7382
During the Westminster Dog Show this Tuesday, PETA supporters imitating dog breeders will stretch a “dachshund” on a rack to illustrate how this breed and others are treated as accessories and deliberately inbred to be malformed, with perilously elongated backs or drastically shortened noses, simply to provide a specific look. PETA is calling on the American Kennel Club to exclude dachshunds—as well as breathing-impaired breeds (BIB), such as “Frenchies,” pugs, and bulldogs—from the competition and to stop promoting Frankendogs who suffer from severe physical ailments (such as shortness of breath and spinal injuries) after generations of selective breeding.
When: Tuesday, May 14, 10 a.m.
Where: David Dinkins Circle, near the East Gate entrance of the U.S. Tennis Association Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (by the intersection of Avenue of the Americas and New York Avenue), Flushing
“Disqualifying long-suffering dachshunds and other intentionally deformed dogs from the competition is the least the Westminster Kennel Club can do after recklessly promoting these breeds for decades,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “Our dogs don’t care what we look like, and anyone who wants a dog because of a specific appearance should buy a stuffed animal—and reevaluate their perverted values.”
PETA notes that most, if not all, “top” dog breeds suffer from numerous ailments. Dachshunds’ long spines and stubby legs often result in herniated discs and other painful back and joint problems that require surgery or are fatal. BIBs suffer from brachycephalic airway syndrome, which makes breathing nearly impossible for them and is the leading cause of death for bulldogs. With more than 70 million cats and dogs homeless in the U.S. at any given time, there’s no excuse for bringing additional animals into the world.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness.
For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
