# How extreme breeding is making our pets sick - The Saturday Story

An episode of [The Story](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1501716010), 1 Aug 2026, 18 min.

Audio: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/storiesofourtimes/e/6a6a18bc501e981514449255/media.mp3

As demand for fashionable pets soars, vets and animal welfare charities say we're creating breeds that are destined to suffer. So, why are we prioritising cuteness over welfare? And what would it take to change the way we breed and buy our pets? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestory Read by: Matt Rudd, contributing editor, The Sunday Times Producers: Emily Webb, Jennifer Kennedy We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.com Read more: ‘They’re not dogs’: how extreme breeding is making our pets sick Photo: Paul Stuart, The Sunday Times This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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