Exploration of Breeding 1

Running Head: Exploration of Breeding

An Exploration of the Ethics and Welfare Behind Breeding Animals for Human Pleasure
Grace Malla
Glen Allen High School
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Is it Our Place to Breed Animals for Pleasure?

Introduction

Given humanity’s natural egocentrism, it is often difficult for us to remember and

acknowledge the other living things with which we share our planet. The sheer amount of life

outside of humans is astounding, as is mankind’s general disregard for it.

Humans exert their power over other species to accomplish many tasks. From necessities

such as for food and hides, to mutually beneficial relationships such as through hunting and other

domestication endeavors, humans and animals do coexist to fulfill one another’s needs. Other

times however, mankind exploits animals simply for frivolity to the point that the animals they

produce are flawed, suffering, and basically unnecessary. Does breeding animals – breeding

dogs, cats, horses – simply for human enjoyment as opposed to use cross practical, ethical, and

moral boundaries?

Most exploitative breeding occurs in the three best-known domesticated species: dogs,

horses, and cats. Nowadays, these animals serve less practical purpose and more of a

companionate niche. Due to the absence of a real need, mankind’s right to engage in such

activities should come under question and scrutiny as there are many negative aspects to

pleasure-breeding.

Plight of Bred Dogs

Authors Paul McGreevy and F.W. Nicolas take a hopeful spin on a negative phenomenon

by offering suggestions to improve the welfare of bred dogs. Prior to offering their advice

though, they write of the unfortunate and contradictory standards people work to produce dogs

to. They sum up their position beautifully in that, “breeders compete with one another to see how
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well they can produce phenotypes that conform to a written standard – including traits that have,

at best, questionable welfare benefits” (McGreevy & Nicholas 1999). In their work, they

chronicle the physical, psychological, and social impediments that bred dogs face.

Physically, bred dogs face a wide range of problems simply caused by their own design.

Of the pug’s London Kennel Club standards, McGreevy & Nicholas note that, “the pug should

have eyes that are ‘very large and globular’ in shape,” and make the connection that staggering

numbers of pugs visit veterinary clinics each year for problems such as exophthalmoses (bulging

of the eyes) and exposure keratitis (dryness and inflammation of cornea due to incomplete or

inadequate eyelid closure) – two ailments directly caused by a pug’s abnormal yet highly prized

orbital structure (McGreevy & Nicholas 1999). In continuation, the authors explain how such

problems arise in the English bulldog, for whom, “the skull should be very large – the larger the

better.” However, in this breed, is it extremely common for this prized large head to cause

dystocia (birthing difficulties) and therefore necessitate a caesarian section (330). They also

touch on the clearly contradictory nature of breed standards. In the Shar Pei for example, The

London Kennel Club requires them to have “loose skin” and a “frowning expression,” but

mandates that in no way should the “‘function of the eyeball or lid be disturbed by the

surrounding skin, folds, and hair’” (McGreevy & Nicholas 1999). They also note that dogs

“should be free from entropion” (rolled-in eyelids), but factors such as loose skin and a frowning

expression are the very cause of entropion (McGreevy & Nicholas 1999).

The authors then move on from outwardly visible traits to psychological negativities that

arise from breeding. While not entirely negative as an idea, a breeder’s efforts to produce “nice”

dogs are actually actions that retard a dog’s brain size and development. Traits that humans know

and love about dogs such as their willingness to play, high tolerance for unfamiliar people, and
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dependence for care, food, and leadership are actually simply juvenile traits that breeders have

selected for over time. McGreevy and Nicholas write of the idea of neoteny by noting that

“modern dogs demonstrate a number of neonatal behaviors such as soliciting care, begging for

food, and sitting around at a rendezvous point ‘waiting for parents’” (McGreevy & Nicholas

1999). While not a physically detrimental characteristic of bred dogs, there are moral

implications to willfully producing forever juvenile and dependent creatures.

Lastly, the authors cover some of the social impediments that bred dogs tend to face. As a

fault of its design, the Old English Sheepdog is unable to communicate effectively with their

owners and other dogs. Due to their soft and long hair, these dogs are unable to raise their

hackles and therefore signal fear and aggression. Due to their long whiskers, they cannot bare

their teeth, and due to their bobbed tails, these dogs cannot even perform the most iconic symbol

of canine communication: wagging their tail (McGreevy & Nicholas 1999).

Another slightly shorter work of

literature highlights the structural

abnormalities of certain bred dogs. As

author Catherine Marley chronicles in the

Lhasa Apso breed, bred dogs can often have

specific and –easy-to-point-to traits that

deviate from the original design of the dog.

She writes, “A frequent effect of the flat or tipped pelvis is a lordotic or swaybacked

lumbar spine resulting from the angle of attachment of the spine. The normal canine loin (lumbar

spine) is slightly arched allowing for strength and the action of the "rearing" muscles. Weakness

in this area can result in serious spinal problems” (Marley). As in the Apso, there are distinct
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features that breeding has changed over time, and some are to the impediment of common dog

behaviors such as rearing.

Plight of Bred Horses

The plight of bred horses is similar to that of the dog in that horses are also bred and

shown purely for looks, but horses also serve mainstream America in a mostly cosmetic way

through their usefulness in hormone replacement therapies.

a. Cosmetic Breeding

Horses too have breed standards that breeders work to adhere to. The Telegraph

authors Sarah Knapton and Charlotte Krol in their piece certainly work to show that

taking selective breeding too far can have outlandish consequences through reporting on

the birth of El Rey Magnum, a purebred Arabian horse with facial features that are

perhaps the first of its kind. The authors sum up this stance by noting that, “the truth is

this is a real horse and it has been bred to meet the demands of a particular market that

likes a particular appearance.” Such implications though, are that this “particular

appearance” can pose health problems to the horse itself (Knapton & Kroll 2017).
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For example, the breed confirmation of the

Arabian horse notes that its identifiable

characteristics to strive for are “its finely chiseled

head, dished face, long arching neck and high tail

carriage” (arabianhorses.org). However, just as with

dogs, breeders work to meet these standards

sometimes to adverse effects and rather shocking

appearances. The Telegraph authors Sarah Knapton

and Charlotte Krol chronicle the birth of El Rey

Magnum – an Arabian horse that highly exemplifies the aforementioned breed standards

to the point of excess and abnormal appearance. Experts note that “the trend of breeding

animals to make them more attractive even when it damages their health has spread to

horses, vets are warning” and this trend in plain to see in the appearance of El Rey

Magnum. Seeing as horses are only able to breathe through their nose, this horse’s highly

dished facial structure could pose respiratory problems to the point that one veterinarian

notes that “[he] suspect[s] exercise would definitely be limited for this horse” (Knapton

& Kroll 2017)

b. Human Use Breeding

In addition to being bred for their own appearance, horses are bred for the

improvement of human feeling and appearance. Premarin is a highly lucrative

industry that thrives on the collection of pregnant mare urine. Given that it is high in

estrogen, the urine is powdered and compounded into commonplace hormone

replacement therapy drugs and then sold. However, the collection of such urine places
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immense strain on mares who are impregnated countless times throughout their lives

to the point that, “the conditions under which these mares are forced to live is so hard

that one fourth of them are replaced each year” (Wager 2001). Additionally, PMU

harvesting endangers foals who – being seen as a byproduct of the industry – are

often slaughtered or returned right back into the industry as collection mares

themselves. “In the very early days, many of the foals were killed and dumped in

landfills or just disposed of in some way… Foal meat became big business once they

started exporting it to Europe and Japan in the late 1980s” (Wager 2001).

Plight of Bred Cats

Although not quite to the same extent as horses and dogs, bred cats also face abnormal

lives as a result of their own DNA and their own “perfection” according to their breed standards.

The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare chronicles the lives of Manx cats simply

as an example of one breed that suffers or whose development is slowed by traits that breeders

desire.

Perhaps best known for being naturally tailless, the Manx cat faces a number of health

implications seeing as a tail is a highly important and functional appendage – cats would not

have evolved with one had it not been of use and importance. The Universities Federation

contributors note in a very encompassing manner that:

The genetic mutation that causes Manx (tail-less) cats also frequently causes severe
disease consequences because of its effects on the development of the spine and spinal cord. The
various forms of spina bifida which commonly occur lead to complications which can cause
partial paralysis, prevent normal behaviours, cause incontinence, and lead to painful infections
(UFAW 2011).
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This makes sense, because willfully selecting for cats with physically less vertebrae and

less nerve endings in the spinal cord is selecting for abnormal construction, and problems are

bound to arise.

Most commonly, Manx

cats are born with spina bifida – a

condition in which the spinal

column does not properly fuse

around the spinal cord. “Signs

shown by Manx cats with spina bifida vary according to the severity of the spinal cord

abnormality, but can include an abnormal “hopping” gait, plantigrade stance (with more of the

hind leg on the ground than normal), urinary and faecal incontinence, and lack of sensation in the

hind legs and around the perineum (the skin round the anus and urethra openings)” (UFAW

2011).

Even though cats don’t always spring to mind as designer animals, their welfare in the

respect of breeding is worth time and attention, as bred cats too experience a hindered quality of

life.

Conclusion

Due to the lack of need for animals with certain features in our increasingly advanced

world, breeding animals for pleasure is ultimately a matter best left to the morals of the

individuals who are considering breeding them. However, given the obvious health problems and

developmental delays of bred animals, breeding them is a practice that is best left in the times

long gone from which it came.

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References
Knapton, S. & Krol, C. (2017, Oct 13). Extreme horse breeding leaves animals looking like

cartoons, warn vets. The Telegraph. Retrieved from

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/10/13/extreme-horse-breeding-leaves-animals-

looking-like-cartoons/

Marley, C. Movement and the pelvic angle. Retrieved from http://www.lhasa-

apso.org/movement/pelvis.html

McGreevy, P.D., & Nicholas, F.W. (1999). Some practical solutions to welfare problems in dog

breeding. Animal Welfare- Potters Bar, 8, 329-342. Retrieved from http://rp-

www.vetsci.usyd.edu.au/research/disorders/documents/solutiondogbreeding.pdf

Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. (2011). Genetic welfare problems of companion

animals: manx syndrome. Retrieved from https://www.ufaw.org.uk/cats/manx-manx-

syndrome

Wagner, S. (2001). Pissing their lives away: How the drug industry harms horses. The Animals'

Agenda, 21(2), 22-26. Retrieved from

http://libproxy.clemson.edu/login?url=https://search proquest-

com.libproxy.clemson.edu/docview/215894139?accountid=6167
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