Geschundene Gefährten

The explosive non-fiction book on the topic of breeding dogs and catsGermany's most distinguished animal pathologist exposes the immense suffering caused in many cases by the breeding of pure breeds of pets.In his latest book, bestselling author and veterinarian Prof. Dr. Achim Gruber takes aim at the serious health problems caused by the traditional breeding of dogs and cats and demands that they be treated ethically: We finally need ethical standards in matters of breeding and breed - the responsibility of all pet owners and buyers is called for! "Our previous thinking on breeds has failed many times", says Gruber, but he also gives hope and shows many ways out without wanting to abolish breeds.What counts is animal welfareOver thousands of years, man has adapted the anatomies, special performances and temperaments of dogs and cats to his needs and created an amazing variety of breeds. But now many of the principles and ideals of breeding pure breeds are turning out to be aberrations - as more and more animals suffer from inbred traits. "Breeding successes" not infrequently manifest themselves in painful orthopaedic diseases, life-shortening cancers, distressing sensory disorders, annoying allergies or sad behavioural impoverishments. The Berlin animal pathologist Prof. Dr. Achim Gruber puts his finger in the wound and states: "It is high time to rethink our breed concept for dogs and cats and to take responsibility again for what really counts: animal welfare.Animal ethics - or our duties towards animalsAchim Gruber draws attention to fundamental ethical questions with regard to the breeding of dogs and cats in his book "Geschundene Gefährten". It is a fact that many pets, especially dogs and cats, make too great a health sacrifice for us humans. More and more resistance is being voiced against this: in 2022, the Animal Welfare Dog Ordinance was passed with important innovations for breeding and keeping.