Georgia will be taking steps to "update" their live bulldog mascot, and it is definitely a change that many people are going to welcome.
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According to a report from DawgNation, the Seiler family that breeds Georgia's line of live bulldog mascots will be making changes to how they breed the animals in the future. The wanted result? Slimmer, more natural looking bulldogs that have less health problems due to genetics.
From DawgNation:
That next dog? He may not look like his old man, Uga X. Young Uga XI could have a smaller head, maybe a slightly longer nose. His legs may a bit longer; his chest, not quite so broad.
Charles Seiler, the son of the man who 60 years ago started the whole Uga line, wants to change UGA's bulldog to make it look more like the Ugas of yore. It's a matter of health, if not aesthetics.
The first six live Uga mascots all had a career of at least 50 games on the sideline, with five of those six representing the football team for over 100 games. Since the death of Uga VI in 2008, though, Georgia has only had one mascot — Russ, Uga IX — last more than 25 games on the sideline.
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The desired changes come after multiple reports — including a popular one from UC-Davis this summer — indicate that bulldogs have "bred into a corner".
The bulldog, some veterinarians say, is in crisis, its genetic pool fouled by poor breeding choices. It can barely breathe. It can hardly walk. It is prone to heat stroke — Ugas have been known to lie on blocks of ice. It cannot bear puppies without a C-section. It cannot breed without a lot more human intervention than nature intended.
Hopefully Georgia and the Seiler family can act as a leader in preserving the bulldogs before their genetic makeup becomes irreversible. Live mascots are always fun, but the rate at which Ugas have been passing away recently has been particularly alarming. It would also just be sad to see Georgia's mascot go away permanently due to poor breeding techniques.
As for Uga X? Seiler believes the bulldog is more than ready for his second season of football.
