The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) issued a letter to the Western Bulldogs president, Kylie Watson-Wheeler, urging the club to recognise the health problems bulldogs and other brachycephalic dogs suffer from.

PETA campaign advisor in Australia, Mimi Bekhechi, penned the letter, claiming that having live mascots promotes and normalises the breeding of dogs with deformities and severe breathing issues.

“Extremely short snouts spell suffering,” Bekhechi wrote.

“By showcasing Caesar and Sunny at games and events and promoting their breeder, the team is – however unwittingly – supporting the intentional breeding of dogs with painful and debilitating deformities.”

“We have a suggestion that’ll modernise Western Bulldogs’ image: retire Caesar and Sunny and rename the club the ‘Western Mutts’,” the letter read.

“By not promoting breathing impaired dog breeds (BIB) ... you’d avoid normalising their suffering and instead help champion loveable and unique mixed-breed dogs, who typically live longer and are healthier than their flat-faced cousins.

“By relinquishing Caesar and Sunny’s mascot duties to your willing human costumed mascots and renaming the team the “Western Mutts”, you’d be taking a stand against the “pedigree” dog-breeding industry while championing the adoption of wonderful mixed breeds and other homeless animals.”

The club told News Corp that they were unaware of any letter from PETA and chose not to comment.