Ojai, California has become the first city in the nation to ban the breeding of dogs or cats with “extreme and exaggerated anatomical features,” which are known to cause health problems. These include dogs with snout lengths that are less than one-third of the animal’s head from top to bottom; features that cause abnormal or labored breathing sounds during rest; body shapes that prevent mating without human intervention; visible skin folds on top of the muzzle; excessive skin folds on the body; unnatural posture; and more.
Brachycephalic dog breeds such as French bulldogs (frenchies), pugs, and shih tzus will fall under the ordinance, as will Persian cats and Scottish Folds. The breeding of chondrodystrophic dogs with short legs, like corgis and dachshunds, will also be prohibited.
The ordinance was approved last month in a 4-1 vote. Animal rights groups and some veterinarians praised the decision. Experts say designer breeding of pets with “extreme” traits has produced a generation of animals with preventable, chronic health conditions.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) vehemently opposes the new law, calling it “extremist” as well as “unsubstantiated, uninformed and difficult to enforce."