Puppies had their ears cropped in a savage illegal procedure for money

Dog ear cropping is a painful procedure that can leave animals scarred for life. It is a serious offence punishable by law. This case proves that animal cruelty is not taken lightly in Britain.

Cropping had been done recently and was not fully healed

Police in Plymouth, England obtained a warrant to search a property where suspected animal abuse was taking place. They were joined by RSPCA, a charity that has the power to investigate such cases.

During the visit, they discovered two pocket bullies, a female grey merle and a male tan and white, both in a distressed state. They had their ears cropped. RSPCA inspector Pippa Boyd noticed the signs of bleeding on the dogs' heads, which meant the cropping had been done recently and was not fully healed.

Ear cropping has been illegal in the UK for a long time. It can have serious, lifelong implications for the dogs. This procedure is painful for the animals but is still carried out illegally purely to achieve a 'desired look' and to make a dog appear tougher.

It was reported that the animals involved in this case are still suffering from the illegal treatment. They will be rehomed by the charity.

The investigation

Dog passports provided by the men on the property did not contain the necessary vaccination stamps or details to support that the dogs had been legally imported. The dates of birth seemed to have been doctored to show a different date.

Evidence gathered by the RSPCA showed that dogs were being sold for commercial gain through an internet marketplace.Whatsapp messages proved the dogs had been born under their care, and their ears had been savagely mutilated. Their correspondence saw the abusers discuss the tools needed for the illegal procedure and removal of staples and the medication for sedating the helpless puppies.

In one of the messages, a man shared videos of freshly mutilated animals.

The abusers also talked about the commercial gain.

One of them wrote:

You get top money if you get their ears done. That's what I'm going to do.

Cruel abusers were sentenced

A Plymouth dog breeder responsible for the cropping of puppies' ears has been sentenced to 12 months in prison and a 20-year disqualification from keeping animals. He admitted three animal welfare offences following an investigation and prosecution by the RSPCA. Another man involved in the crime got 120 hours of unpaid work and was also disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years.

RSPCA Inspector Jim Farr, who led the case, said after the hearing:

Ear cropping is a painful process in which part or all of the ear is removed for cosmetic reasons. It is illegal under the Animal Welfare Act.

Head to RSPCA's website to learn more about the charity and support their vital animal welfare and rescue work.

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