18/02/2023
HEARTBREAKING NEWS 💔
Many of you saw Keanu on the Panorama programme, and were horrified by his deformities caused by poor breeding. Following X-rays it was agreed that surgery would be too complex and not in his welfare interest, and we opted to manage him clinically under the close supervision of our vets.
Keanu went to the vets early this week for another check up and sadly it wasn't good news. He was only 8 months old when he arrived and still not fully grown. As he grew and gained muscle this has unavoidably put more pressure onto his joints. The vets felt Keanu was now beginning to show pain responses in his front legs, and as he is still developing this would only deteriorate further. Over the last few weeks as the weather has begun to warm slightly, we have also noticed that Keanu was struggling with extreme shortness of breath.
After a lengthy and difficult discussion with our vets we sadly agreed that complex surgery to help Keanu’s breathing wouldn’t be in his best interests when he's also beginning to show pain in his legs. After a very difficult discussion both with our vets and our team at the centre, we made the heartbreaking decision to let Keanu pass peacefully before he really began to struggle.
How many young dogs need to die before bully breeders take responsibility for the genetic timebombs they are creating? As shown in the Panorama programme, Keanu is far from a one-off example. This is something we are seeing all too often. Yet the public contine to fuel the demand for these dogs bred with such extreme features it's killing them. It's time for change so dogs like Keanu do not have to suffer. We'll miss you big boy, and will keep campaigning in your memory 🌈
