Dog shelters are being forced to euthanise flat–faced dogs amid a 'heartbreaking' rise in abandonments for these trendy breeds. Dog shelters warn they are being overwhelmed by the sheer number of dogs with 'extreme conformations', with one reporting a 500 per cent increase since 2017. Ms Roser, whose dog shelter re–homes around 800 dogs each year, says she has seen a 500 per cent increase in abandonments of dogs with extreme conformations. That includes a staggering 170 per cent increase in requests to relinquish extremely flat–faced or brachycephalic dogs in a single year. Hope Rescue in South Wales says it has seen a 500 per cent increase in dogs with extreme conformation since 2017.

Source: Daily Mail February 14, 2026 12:01 UTC