It can’t be healthy for skinny models & now its spread to the world of pedigree dogs!
LONDON: What started as just an argument about skinny models on the ramps of New York and Milan has now spread to the world of pedigree dogs. Yes, the ‘Size Zero’ row has reached canine shows. Experts have claimed that many dog owners are denying their pets proper food and water in order to win competitions – in fact, canines are “starved” to meet strict weight limits at shows, ‘The Sunday Telegraph’ reported.
According to Andrew Brace, a dog show judge, three quarters of the Miniature Dacshunds at a recent championship in Bridgend, Wales, were “far too thin for their frames”. “I am well aware of the strength of feeling of the Miniature people about the need to maintain the scales, but I believe that this is not helping the breed one bit,” he wrote in the ‘Dog World’ magazine.
Agreed expert Jemima Harrison, the producer of a BBC documentary which in 2008 exposed breeding techniques which led to genetic illnesses that affect pedigree dogs: “This is ‘Size Zero’ for dogs, I am inundated with owners and judges who say they are seeing dehydrated or malnourished dogs on the scales, all for the sake of a rosette. It sounds funny to think of dogs having the same issues as fashion models but it is a serious welfare issue. For these owners, it is all about winning and nothing else.”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Mad-Mad-World/Size-Zero-row-reaches-dog-shows/articleshow/4169096.cms

Answer by Eva S
the size zero rule is like a fetish, it has become way too much of an obsessive thing. How sad.

Answer by Lee J
Cudnt care less about the dogs but the model are showing children that it is fasionable to be ridicolusly skinny. its unhealthy

Answer by ZoeLouise
It’s ridiculous!!

Sorry but thats just bonkers!!

10 Comments so far

1. ---

   I understand what you’re saying about the influence of the media, but some people just can’t help being skinny. Some people try and try to gain weight and just can’t. I don’t think size zero is wrong, nor do I think size ten is wrong. All that matters is that the person is healthy. I don’t think most people can help what size pants they wear.

2. ---

   That’s really messed up! Size zero for people is bad enough – but at least it’s a person’s own choice. These poor dogs have no voice and are being forced to go without food for the most shallow of reasons. This is nothing short of animal cruelty and the owners should be prosecuted and banned from owning any pets.

3. ---

   what?! thats realy strange this world revolves around diet and size zero etc, i say we should just get on with our lives and and talk about the things that really matter like fashion or just interesting things,it’s been going on too long in my opinion its ridiculous that its now spreading to dogs! its not they have a choice if they want to be either! poor things this should be classed as animal cruelty! as does over feeding your pet is!

4. ---

   Well it’s kind of the judges responsibility to make sure this stops happening. If a dog is undernourished, it should be disqualified, and banned from showing for a year.

   I don’t know about the mentality “size 0″ encourages, but it certainly doesn’t make any literal sense. Seems sort of like saying someone doesn’t exist.

5. ---

   I had a Jack Russel and if tried to size zero him, you’d have to sleep with one eye open.

6. ---

   This just takes the biscuit. This is animal cruelty, no doubt about it. However,these dogs should be refused entry to the competitions full stop. Allowing them to participate is encouraging this.

7. ---

   Size zero for dogs – now that’s just ridiculous and cruel. Humans have the choice if they want to be size zero or not its their preference but the poor dogs have no choice surely its got to be classed as animal cruelty to malnourish them?

8. ---

   That is absolutely disgusting. That is animal cruelty and the owners should be charged with cruelty just like anybody else who mistreats their pets . I don’t care if people want to be anorexic , but denying a dog food and water for the sake of their appearance is none other than sickening . Some people should not be allowed to have animals , and they are a perfect example right there .

9. ---

   Is the size below size 0 size skeleton?

10. ---

    That’s just wrong, everything about dog shows is just plain weird and wrong.