Ear cropping – sometimes also called ear docking – is the act of cutting the ears of a dog so that the ear is either removed or damaged in someway. In most cases, the ears are cropped so that the floppy part of the ear is removed.
Is there a reason for this?
The main reason why people crop the ears of dogs are because they are to be used for fighting. The less loose skin there is during the fight, the less chance of any injuries – or so these people would claim.
In recent years however, the rise in ear cropping cases – especially in the UK – is thought to be linked to social media and celebrity cultures. I have found that most ear cropping cases involve dogs that are meant to be ‘big’ and ‘scary’ – staffies, pitbulls, bulldogs. Many oft he images of this practice come from abroad, where the practice is legal and unregulated. People in the public eye, whether they knowingly do it, endorse this procedure by sharing pictures of their cropped dogs which just adds to normalise and glamorise the look. Images of cropped dogs are even being used on items of clothing and other merchandise, as well as in advertising. They need to take responsibility and set a good example to their fans, promote responsible dog ownership and champion good animal welfare.
There is absolutely no reason why a dog needs to have their ears cropped. It causes unnecessary suffering to the dog and has an impact on their overall health. Many people who carry out this act also do so without the use of anaesthetic so the dog feels every single moment of the procedure.
How does it affect the dog?
It can impact on the dog’s hearing – Dogs’ ears can move independently of one another and move towards the direction of sound so that they can be positioned in the optimal place for hearing. The outer ear is shaped to capture sound waves and funnel them into the ear canal and towards the eardrum. While it is not clear yet whether the practice of ear cropping does impact on a dog’s ability to hear, it would be expected to have an impact as the practice would alter how sound can enter the ear canal and thus how a dog can sense their surroundings.
It changes how they communicate – Dogs use their ears to help us, and other animals, understand how they’re feeling. Flat ears usual mean fear or anger, pricked up ears mean excitement or that something has caught their attention. Without their ears, dogs have fewer ways of communicating with us and this would be frustrating for any animal to have to go through when their communication options are already limited.
Similar to the above, the dog’s overall body language can be hard to read. Ears play a huge part in assessing how an animal is feeling and since this practice removes the ears, it adds another layer of difficulty to a situation.
Is it legal?
In the UK, ear cropping has been illegal since 2006 when it was included under Section 5 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. It is against the law to carry out this procedure yourself or to send your dog to a vet in this country or abroad to have their ears cropped. Unfortunately though, it still happens, and in 2022 the RSPCA had a 621% increase in the number of reports of ear cropping and cropped ears raised with them compared to the last six years. From 2015 to 2020, they had a total of 279 reports of the practice made to their emergency hotline.
In some medical situations, vets can perform a procedure called a pinnectomy that can look like the ears have been cropped. This is only done in the case of disease of the ears and is more usually required in white cats who can sometimes get skin cancer. The procedure is allowed when there are clear medical reasons and cannot be done for cosmetic reasons. Some people who support the practice state that having a ‘working dog’ should be an exemption to the rule for their own safety whilst out working, however there is no evidence to support this claim. The practice is unnecessary and is purely for cosmetic reasons.
What can I do if I suspect a dog has cropped ears?
Anyone concerned that someone might be cropping dogs’ ears themselves, arranging ear cropping in the UK or sending their dogs abroad to have the procedure done should report it to the RSPCA by calling 0300 1234 999.
That being said, there may be some people who own dogs with cropped ears who do not even know that the ears have been cropped. The importation of puppies and dogs into the UK with already cropped ears is another topic that the UK government is looking to tackle. But on a smaller, lower level, education is once again key. If you know someone who is looking to buy a puppy, educate them on the risks involved with this and the practice of ear cropping, as well as encouraging them to adopt instead of buying.
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