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      From house pets to farm hands, animals play a large role in our society.  Some people believe animals to be sentient while others consider them nothing more than human property.  Even though the sentience of animals is debatable, all animals at least have the basic right to prosper.  An animal is prospering if it is free of injury, sickness, and pain, not hungry or thirsty, not afraid or stressed, and able to behave normally (Bovenkerk and Nijland 394).  Selective breeding, however, tampers with the prosperity of animals.  Because of the health issues and physical deterioration it causes for the sake of human benefit, most selective breeding practices are unethical.

     Selective breeding means to breed animals only for their appearance and specific traits.  Dogs, for example, used to only be bred for practical reasons (such as strength, agility, and work abilities) instead of outward appearances.  When dog shows became popular three centuries ago, however, a lot of dog breeding shifted to vanity reasons in order for different breeds to have distinct looks (Smith 156).  The practice of selective breeding is technically “natural” since new breeds of animals are not created in a laboratory (Ayres).  However, just because something is “natural” does not always mean it is a good thing.  Most of the time, selective breeding is not beneficial to animals.

     The main reason for selective breeding is to change animals so they can be more useful to humans.  It makes animals whatever humans need or want them to be rather than what they should be (“Biotechnology”).  Breeding animals for their looks while sacrificing their potential health is a violation of the wellbeing of animals.  When bred to be accessories or meat machines, the “animalness” is stripped away from the animals.  By doing that, animals become viewed as objects rather than living, breathing beings (Bovenkerk and Nijland 397).  It is unethical to exploit animals for selfish reasons while ignoring their basic rights and overall welfare. 

     Since most selective breeding solely focuses on the traits a certain breed is supposed to have, many animals now have health issues because of their exaggerated appearance (Smith 156).   Selective breeding is one of the major factors that causes health issues in purebred dogs (Bovenkerk and Nijland 388).  Many purebred dog breeds have roughly four to eight health issues that are genetic. When breeds have a lot of inbreeding, the health issues are greater in number (Smith 157).  The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) conducted a study that researched issues surrounding selective breeding.  The study (focused on dogs) found that selective breeding did in fact negatively affect the wellbeing of purebred dogs.  They found that each breed has at least one health issue (if not more) caused by selective breeding.  An example of one of the issues is found in Bulldogs, Pugs, and all other breeds sharing that same distinct and flat face.  Because their faces are abnormally shaped due to their unique breeding, they are predisposed to breathing and eye problems.  In addition, Bulldogs specifically are not able to give birth naturally because the heads of their puppies are far too big.  Surgery is required to deliver a littler of Bulldog puppies (Smith 156).  Bulldogs will also not breed unless prompted (Curit).  In my opinion, forcing a dog to have puppies when they cannot give birth is unethical.  Furthermore, Bulldogs are not the only breed with major health issues.  Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Dachshunds, Yorkshire Terriers, and Basset Hounds are few of the many other breeds that have problems caused by the narrow gene pool that selective breeding creates.  Continuing to breed dogs without outcross (the breeding of two different breeds) is unethical.

     Purebred dogs are not the only animals affected by selective breeding.  Selective breeding is used among food animals in order to maximize the number of products they produce. For example, several types of dairy cows are selectively bred to produce more milk than they naturally would, which can cause irritated and swollen udders.  Also, chickens and turkeys are bred to be larger than normal in order to produce more meat.  As a result, it is common for the birds to grow so abnormally large that they are no longer able to walk (Markgraf).  Since many selectively bred livestock animals grow at a faster than normal rate, they can also develop musculoskeletal, heart, and other health problems (“Biotechnology”).

     Due to breeding for certain traits, the quality of a breed decreases as generations go on because genetic variation is lacking.  This deterioration is also known as genetic “bottlenecking” (Ayres).  A prime example of genetic “bottlenecking” is found in thoroughbred horses.  Thoroughbreds are bred for speed and athleticism but because of the many years of selective breeding in order to maintain these traits, their physique has become frail.  Their composition now commonly consists of fragile bones that are unable to support their large muscles, causing them to be more prone to fractures and injuries (Clark).  According to the Equine Injury Database, from 2009 to 2013, 1.9 Thoroughbred racehorses sustain fatal injuries for every one thousand races started.  In that five year span, roughly 1.8 million total races were started.  If a racehorse is fatally injured, it is usually euthanized within three days (Georgopoulos and Parkin 931).  By the nature of genetic “bottlenecking” and selective breeding, these statistics can only increase.  Thousands of horses continue to be euthanized because generations of selective breeding cause them to be weak.  It is inhumane to put horses through the intense sport of racing when some of them are not physically able to sustain the pressure.

    Despite the many negative aspects of selective breeding, some people still might argue in favor of it.  One of the only pros of selective breeding is that it sometimes can be used to benefit animal welfare.  If done correctly, animals can be bred to become less susceptible to certain injuries and diseases (Ayres).  Unfortunately, the positive use of selective breeding is not a priority to most animal breeders.  Most times, the want for specific looks and qualities in animals overshadows the good side of selective breeding as well as the ethical burdens the bad side produces.  As a result, the welfare of animals is dismissed.  In order for all animals to truly prosper, humans would be required to benefit much less from them.  Sadly, that is not a sacrifice a lot of people are willing to make.

     The question of whether or not animals actually deserve to be protected from selective breeding may arise.  Some Christians might argue that since humans have supposed dominion over animals, we have the right to do whatever we want with them.  Others argue that animals are almost equal to humans and should be treated as such.  I say that animals are incredibly intelligent as well as capable of emotions and friendships and therefore have the right to prosperity and should be treated with respect.  Humans use animals as companions, farm hands, food sources, and much more.  Since we rely on animals for so many things, they deserve proper treatment and the right to protection from harmful practices.

     For the wellbeing of selectively bred animals, there needs to be genetic diversity.  Expanding the gene pools in purebred animals would allow them to be less susceptible to breed-specific health problems.  The fact that mixed breed dogs are less likely to develop health problems than purebreds is evidence enough that large genetic diversity is beneficial to animal health (Curit).  This can be achieved by outcrossing breeds and not allowing closely related animals to mate.  Another way to decrease the negative effects of selective breeding is to limit the number of times a stud can breed which, in return, lessens the chances of inbreeding (Smith 157).  Small changes in breeding can make huge differences in animal wellness.  If ignored, the negative effects of selective breeding can only get worse as time goes on.  Since animals cannot advocate for themselves, it is our duty as humans to recognize and fix harmful practices involving animals. 

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Works Cited

Ayres, Crystal. “16 Main Advantages and Disadvantages of Selective Breeding.” Green Garage,

     23 Jul. 2015, greengarageblog.org/16-main-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-selective-breeding.

     Accessed 1 Apr. 2019.

“Biotechnology.” BBC, 6 Nov. 2014, bbc.co.uk/ethics/animals/using/biotechnology_1.shtml#h1.

     Accessed 3 Apr. 2019.

Bovenkerk, Bernice and Hanneke J. Nijland. “The Pedigree Dog Breeding Debate in Ethics and

     Practice: Beyond Welfare Arguments.” Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, vol. 30, no.3, 2017, pp. 387-412.

     DOI: doi.org/10.1007/s10806-017-9673-8. Accessed 3 Apr. 2019.

Clark, Josh. “How Thoroughbred Horses Work.” How Stuff Works, n.d., animals.howstuffworks.

     com/mammals/thoroughbred-horse7.htm. Accessed 6 Apr. 2019.

Curit, Rachel. “Why Breeding Pets is Irresponsible. Period.” One Green Planet, 20 Jun. 2017,

     onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/why-breeding-pets-is-irresponsible/. Accessed 2 Apr. 2019.

Georgopoulos, Stamatis P. and Tim D.H. Parkin. “Risk Factors Associated with Fatal Injuries in

     Thoroughbred Racehorses Competing in Flat Racing in the United States and Canada.”  Journal of the American

     Veterinarian Medical Association, vol. 249, no. 8, 2016, pp. 931-939. DOI: doi.org/10.2460/javma.249.8.931.

     Accessed 7 Apr. 2019.

Markgraf, Bert. “Advantages and Disadvantages of Selective Breedings.”  Sciencing, 21 Sept.

     2018, sciencing.com/advantages-disadvantages-selective-breedings-8132953.html. Accessed 7 Apr. 2019.

Smith, Abbey A. “Selective Breeding.” The Global Guide to Animal Protection, University of

     Illinois Press, 2013,  pp. 156-157. jstor.org/stable/10.5406/j.ctt2tt9r9.104. Accessed 1 Apr. 2019.