Encourage the University of Redlands to Consider Mascot Breeding Alternatives

Alumna, 2009

I am totally for adopting rescue animals. I have now 4 rescue cats. The new mascot should be a rescue dog.

English bulldogs are so inbred that they suffer from a number of horrible health problems, including breathing problems, infections, spinal deformities, and chronic pain. They can't even give birth naturally -- puppies usually must be born by caesarean section. U of R should take a stand against inhumane dog breeding standards by adopting a rescue animal, ideally a mixed breed dog, which would be a much healthier and happier mascot than a purebred English bulldog.

The University has a great opportunity to be a leader and role-model to those in the community looking for a pet. So many dogs could be saved by others following the University's lead.

Let's take care of our friends and demonstrate the compassion and intelligence that are hallmarks of a U of R education. JC '91

I love the fact that we have a live mascot but it's time for this ever so public representation of our university be selected in accordance with our values instead of our aesthetic predispositions. If human bulldogs can come in all shapes, colors, and creeds certainaly the canine bulldog can too.

Stop breeding!!!!! Rescue!!!!

I helped raise, train, and familiarize Thurber with the campus as an Ad-host. It was wonderful but I did feel a bit uncomfortable with the fact that he and his sister were specifically bred for the purpose of having a bulldog on campus. I would much prefer to see the dog on campus be a rescue, rather than an actual English Bulldog.

This is a great idea. Step into the limelight of being a university that has rescue pups. That would make this alum proud.

Shelter dogs are some of the sweetest dogs around, and they need the love. Plus they're adorable! There are no downsides to getting a shelter dog mascot!

Such a wonderful idea!! As a former employee of the Redlands Animal Shelter and a rescue dog mama, I think this would help the community understand that rescue dogs are just as great as any pure bred dog bought from a breeder! There are so many in need of a home. What a great example that would set for the community! Adoption should be the only option!

Just because our mascot is a bulldog, doesn't mean we need a pure breed on our campus. Health is more important than perfect representation.

University of Redlands alumnus 2011

I'm a veterinarian and 2008 alumnus from the University of Redlands. Breed concerns are becoming a more and more spoken about topic and the AVMA (the American Veterinary Medical Association) has recently decided to take a harder stance on breed standards and breeders in hopes of helping to create healthier lineages and dogs. Brachycephalic dogs, dogs with squished faces like English bulldogs and pugs, generally suffer from a trachea that is too small (can you imaging your whole life breathing through a straw and not knowing any differently?), nostrils that are too small, and soft pallates that are too long and impede airways. (This is the definition of brachycephalic syndrome). Along with that, the part about dental disease (overcrowding of dentition and maligned bites) is certainly true of this breed as well as the skin conditions such as allergies and infections in the folds of the skin. That's not mentioning the chronic ear infections and eye issues that are also common in this breed. I understand that this is the beloved mascot of our school, but it is something for you to consider as to the well being and health of the animal that is supposed to be representing this well respected institution of higher learning. This is something that has secretly bothered me for YEARS and I'm glad to see someone else has spoken up about it.

I'm a Johnston alumni who has fostered rescue dogs, volunteered with various dog rescue groups and adopted my second foster dog. I highly encourage UCR to rescue their next bulldog and I suggest they contact Southern California Bulldog Rescue as well as NKLA/Best Friends Animal Society to aid them in their search.

Every year, millions of dogs and cats are euthanized due to overcrowded shelters. Please be part of the solution and be an example to the community and spay or neuter our mascot & family. A rescue makes a positive impact, not a bloodline. -Laura Perea, University of Redlands, Johnson Center, class of 2014.

Duke was my main man, Thurber's great. But there are plenty of pups out there who would surely meet whatever criteria are most important to being a mascot (cute, endearing, friendly, etc.) who might not get adopted out of a shelter in time to save their perfectly good and deserving life. I honestly don't have anything against reputable responsible breeders, for real, but if saving a life isn't enough, think about all the money you can save with a shelter dog! Granted, a humble $1K might not seem like much to a university that manages several hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars per year (I really have no idea what pull in annually, but it's gotta be a lot, right?) but a little bit here and there really adds up. I'm sure you're familiar with the concept.

Save the pups!!

This issue is very personal to me. I hope the University realizes what an important issue this is and makes a better decision.

We've bred bulldogs into the ground, and supporting a pure breed mascot would be nothing short of shortsighted, self-interested institutional idiocy.