Former ‘Love Island’ contestant Olivia Bowen Buckland has been commended for her social media posts urging people to research before getting a puppy.
The posts came after her French bulldog, Reggie, who suffers from brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (a breathing condition that affects many flat-faced dogs), needed surgery.
BVA junior vice president Daniella Dos Santos said: “As vets, we often hear from owners that their flat-faced dog is healthy, but they don’t realise that loud breathing or snorting isn’t ‘normal’. In reality, dogs with short muzzles can struggle to breathe…
“We hope that Mrs Bowen Buckland’s example will inspire more celebrity owners of pets with breed-related health and welfare issues to speak out.”
BVA launched its #BreedtoBreathe campaign in January.