Designer pets are highly popular for their novel appearances, exclusive numbers and rather outrageous names.

However, all these positive attributes are overshadowed by an unnerving similarity to the famous tale – Frankenstein. In this book, the scientist creates a monster where he arrogantly thought he could, god-like, create a humanoid creature with his own hands. As the story progresses, we see the failings of his experiment – both the physical and intangible attributes of his beast.

Designer pets are starting to bear uncanny resemblance to this scenario. Half-wild cats constantly mortally preying upon other pets. Dogs suffering from joints so stunted and twisted that they are unable to walk or play.

This isn’t a new phenomenon. One of the earliest crosses – the French bulldog – has now reached a point of evolution where they cannot reproduce naturally. The female must be artificially inseminated – as well as the puppies removed by c-section.

Each year in Australia alone, approximately 250,000 healthy unwanted dogs and cats in pounds are put to sleep. Whilst unhealthy “aawww sooo cute!” crosses continue to propagate.

I ask you, what is the real cost of breeders arrogantly playing the role of Mother Nature now, and into the future?