I hope that these puppies can demonstrate how unethical it is to breed and buy flatfaced dogs. These puppies require very specialized care due to severe brachycephaly (flat faces) which puts them at high risk of aspiration and other respiratory problems. Unfortunately, people continue to intentionally breed brachycephalic dogs for profit, with no regard for the suffering they cause. In addition to having a high risk of lifelong health issues, French bulldogs also have very high maternal and infant mortality; I don’t think most people realize that the consequence of buying these “cute squishy face puppies” is that many mothers and puppies die in the process. Because they are bred to have unnaturally narrow hips, mothers will risk death without a csection, and even with one, they can die from respiratory problems under anesthesia due to their restricted airways. Their puppies are often born with congenital problems, and a majority of surviving dogs (72%) will have health conditions. When orphaned, it is hard for even a seasoned rescuer to care for them. And so, for every French bulldog you see on Instagram, many had to suffer. Breeders know this, which is why it’s all factored into the cost, as if suffering and death is nothing but a lineitem expense in their business plan. It is a vile endeavor and nothing any animal lover should support.

These newborn babies came to us after a local rescue asked for help with a litter that had been surrendered to them in bad shape. These orphaned puppies were struggling on the bottle and needed tube feeding. I am currently tube feeding them every 2 hours to keep them stable. They are gaining weight and already looking a little better! I’m grateful that they were given a fighting chance, but I’m angry that human greed and aesthetic preference often takes precedent over the welfare of living beings. There is nothing okay about perpetuating congenital abnormalities for the sake of “cuteness.” I hope that in sharing their story, I can make it clear that there is nothing cute about breeding or buying French bulldogs.