Recent data from the UK is showing a worrying trend: the practice of cropping dogs’ ears, a procedure strongly criticized as “cruel” by the RSPCA, is rising in London.
The animal welfare organization reports that there have been 75 documented cases of this procedure in London over the past year, making it the area with the second-highest number of cases after the West Midlands, which recorded 93 cases.
Ear cropping is illegal in the UK and harmful to animals. Unfortunately, this cruel practice is legal in many parts of America and other European countries.
Dr. Samantha Gains from the RSPCA said, “We aim to prevent this cruel procedure from becoming the norm. It’s troubling that it seems to be becoming a fashion trend, and we must stop it soon.”

The trend of cropping a dog’s ears is worryingly on the rise. Credit: PA.
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What is Ear Cropping?
Ear cropping is the process of trimming a dog’s ears. The RSPCA said that some breeders crop a dog’s ears purely for financial gain when selling dogs for a profit.
This procedure can be done using just a pair of scissors and without providing the animal any pain relief.
So far, the RSPCA has found nearly 1,200 dogs with their ears cropped in England and Wales, with the trend more common among more robust dog breeds like the Cane Corso and American Bully.
Why Do People Crop Their Dog’s Ears?
There is no benefit of cropping a dog’s ears except to make the dog look more imposing.
“Ear cropping is a painful and unnecessary procedure in which a dog’s ears are removed or surgically altered,” Dr Gains added. “Unfortunately, many owners do this because they believe it gives their pet a glamorous or tough appearance.”
“But it can have negative effects on their health, behavior, and overall well-being, both in the short term and over time. Dogs do not benefit from this procedure.”
⚠️Upsetting Images⚠️
🩹🐕 It’s taken Riga 15 long months to recover from an illegal ear-cropping procedure which left him in lots of pain, but this brave boy is finally ready to find his furever home 🏡
➡️ Read his story and register your interest here: https://t.co/h72gj7bD4q pic.twitter.com/Zq8yHqBkv0
— RSPCA (England & Wales) (@RSPCA_official) August 17, 2023
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“Additionally, the illegal manner in which it is performed in the UK, often by individuals without veterinary expertise, significantly increases the likelihood of causing these animals to suffer,” Dr. Gains explained.
Example of Cropping Ears
Riga, a bull-type dog, suffered for several days after his owner allowed the illegal procedure to be done and failed to seek proper veterinary care. This prompted authorities to rescue Riga from a location in the Greater Manchester area in April 2021.
He was placed in the care of the RSPCA, where he spent nearly 15 months of rehabilitation before being deemed fit for fostering last month.

Riga spent 15 months in rehabilitation at the RSPCA after having his ears cropped. Credit: RSPCA.
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Luka Atkinson, deputy manager of the RSPCA’s Durham center where Riga received care, said, “He’s an extremely friendly dog and remarkably, he appears to have been unscathed by the trauma and suffering he experienced at such a young age.”
“Despite missing large parts of his years, it hasn’t slowed him down one bit. He possesses an incredible enthusiasm for life.”
“Additionally, he gets along very nicely with the other dogs and has formed numerous friendships with several dogs during his stay here.”
As for Riga’s owner, they were sentenced to 23 weeks in prison and received a 15-year ban on keeping animals after they confessed they allowed Riga’s ears to be illegally cropped.