In our August 2019 issue, we reported on the Dutch government’s decision to ban the breeding of “flat-faced” dogs. Now they are looking to go further – completely banning their property. What it is about?
Some might say this ban has been in the works for almost a decade. It was in 2014 that the Netherlands first passed legislation banning the breeding of dogs whose extreme characteristics endanger their health and quality of life; however, for the next five years, this ban was only on paper.
It was only in 2019 that the Dutch government decided to enforce the law and crack down on the breeding of brachycephalic dogs. The new criteria according to which the reproduction ban would be applied were based on a system of traffic lights going from red to green. No dog whose muzzle is shorter than a third of the skull could be the result of a reproduction; unsurprisingly, this encompassed the vast majority of “flat-faced” dogs.
Following this announcement, the Dutch Kennel Club (Raad van Beheer) suggested an alternative breeding supervision plan; When Dutch government officials responded that the plan would not be accepted and the criteria would not change, the Raad van Beheer ended the registrations of 12 breeds – including pugs, Boston terriers, shih-tzus, British bulldogs, French bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles spaniels. , and affenpinschers.
The Dutch government announced its plan earlier this year: a complete ban on the ownership of these dogs.
Animal welfare groups in Europe, as well as the United Kingdom, welcomed the move. However, some doubted whether the choice to ban the breeding of brachycephalic dogs would have the desired effect.
“We disagree that a simple ban on brachycephalic breeds is the solution to this complex problem,” Bill Lambert, head of health and welfare at the Kennel Club, said at the time. “We fear this absolute approach could further fuel the current crisis of irresponsible breeders, illegal puppy smuggling and misinformed puppy buyers.”
Although the Dutch model has inspired action elsewhere – in Norway, for example, the Oslo District Court ruled in 2022 that the breeding of the English bulldog and the Cavalier King Charles spaniel constitutes a violation of the Norwegian Animal Protection Act due to the serious health problems affecting these breeds – the concern expressed by Mr Lambert was not without foundation.
As is the case in Britain with dogs with cropped ears, a simple ban does not guarantee that those willing to have a dog that looks a certain way will not resort to loopholes – such as legally importing a cropped dog from outside the UK. , or reframe it in secret and then claim that the operation was carried out abroad.
However, there are ways to fill these gaps. Regarding the issue of ear-cropped dogs in the UK, there were plans to ban the importation of ear-cropped dogs under the provisions of the Kept Animals Bill (which has since been abandoned by the government, much to the disappointment of animal welfare advocates). Regarding the issue of brachycephalic dogs imported into the Netherlands, the Dutch government announced its plan at the beginning of the year: a total ban on the ownership of these dogs.
At the end of January 2023, Piet Adema, Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, announced that two bans were being considered: one on the keeping of pets with “harmful external characteristics” and the other on their exposure. The first ban, that of keeping animals, would automatically mean a ban on trade and importation.
“We make life miserable for innocent animals, simply because we find them “beautiful” and “cute”. »
“This subject affects me not only as a minister, but also as a person,” Mr. Adema said. “We make life miserable for innocent animals, simply because we find them “beautiful” and “cute”. This is why today we are taking a big step towards a Netherlands where no pet should suffer from their appearance. The conservation and exhibition bans with which I wish to achieve this will require a lot of time to carefully work out. This is a complex quest, but also a righteous quest.
This ban would not only apply to brachycephalic dog breeds: it would include any animal with characteristics that “can be objectively determined to cause permanent suffering”, such as Scottish Fold cats. The Scottish Fold’s distinctive ears are the result of a gene that affects the animal’s cartilage, weakening it. This is what causes the ears to fold forward under their own weight – but it also affects all joints, making these cats susceptible to developing painful arthritis early in life and having a huge impact on their quality of life.
The Dutch government is currently considering a list of characteristics that would cause permanent suffering and therefore be prohibited in pets; At the moment, they are focusing on dogs and cats, as they are the most commonly kept pets.
“This list will start small, but will be further expanded based on further research into harmful characteristics that can be objectively determined in each animal,” a statement said.
“Seeing a certain type of pet frequently or visibly increases demand. In order to reduce the demand for pets with harmful external characteristics, the LNV (Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) is working on an exhibition ban. This is a ban on showing pets with harmful external characteristics, for example in advertisements and on social networks. The role of celebrities and influencers should also be considered.
“Both a detention ban and an exposure ban are complex and raise many questions. How can we objectively demonstrate when an animal suffers from its appearance? How to carefully manage social media freedoms? How can we ensure proper application? It will take time to carefully resolve these issues. But we want to let people know that it’s happening right away, especially those who are considering bringing a new pet into their home.
“We also hope that this will further fuel the social debate: what do we, as a country, consider normal in terms of animal welfare?
Dutch Animal Protection Organization Dier&Recht hailed the announcement as “fantastic news”.
“For years we have been campaigning for strict legislation to end the serious suffering of overbred pets,” said Kelly Kessen, veterinarian and member of Dier&Recht. “Dogs with short noses are not cute, but pitiful. These animals were deliberately bred for their extreme external characteristics. The deformed nose, abnormal skull shape and often stocky physique lead to serious lifelong health problems. It has long been forbidden to breed animals suffering from their appearance, but purchasing and importing these animals was still possible. The announced ban on keeping animals puts an end to this situation.”
It remains to be seen how the Netherlands will implement these bans. Banning the sharing of your pet’s photo on social media seems somewhat far-fetched, with the Dutch government readily admitting that this aspect will require careful consideration. As for the ownership ban, which is probably the more important of the two, it will not lead to nightmare scenarios in which animals are forcibly removed from their homes: people who already own dogs or cats with prohibited characteristics must be allowed to keep them until the end of their life.
In the case of a person caught in possession of an illegally acquired animal after the ban was enacted, the Dutch government has not yet clarified what the consequences for the owner might be; I hope no one in their right mind will think of punishing the animal for this. It also remains to be seen whether rescue dogs – for example those abandoned by the previous legal owner and in need of a new home – will make an exception.
“The message must be clear: the purchase of these animals is irresponsible, causes serious harm to welfare and will soon no longer be permitted,” read a statement from the Dutch government.
“We also hope that this will further fuel the social debate: what do we, as a country, consider normal in terms of animal welfare?