Ear cropping is an elective surgery currently implemented in approximately 20 dog breeds, including Pit Bulls, Dobermans, Great Danes and more. This procedure involves the surgical removal of most or all of the flappy portion of the ear¹.

Contrary to the prevailing misinformation, ear cropping does not improve a dog's hearing or prevent ear infections².

Research shows that at least 80% of dogs won't get ear infections, "and the breeds that are most likely to get them, such as cocker spaniels and poodles, don't get their ears docked," says Emily Patterson-Kane, PhD, an animal welfare scientist at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)³.

Ear-cropping causes pain and distress to dogs. As with all surgical procedures, it is also accompanied by inherent risks of anesthesia, blood loss, and infection, while providing no welfare or medical benefit to the animal².

Dogs that have been put through this process can wind up suffering from severe ear infections that lead to permanent damage. In some cases, a dog may be in such great pain that they require a specialized procedure to remove the entire ear canal⁴.

The practice of surgically cutting a puppy's ears is now considered only cosmetic and has been banned in most countries, but continues among certain breeds, including pitbulls, in an effort to make the dogs appear tougher and more aggressive⁵.

Not only is ear cropping inhumane, but it has sadly helped to propagate the stereotype that pitbulls are fierce.

Ear cropping is illegal in England and Wales, under Section 5 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006⁶. It is still legal in most of North America.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) currently supports ear cropping in order to maintain the standards of appearance for certain breeds, but the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association oppose it⁷.

Sign the petition in opposition of ear cropping dogs solely for cosmetic purposes, and encourage the elimination of ear cropping from AKC breed standards!

More on this issue:

1. Tire 1 Veterinary Medical Center (2022), "Bringing Up Two Points."
2. American Veterinary Medical Association (13 March 2013), "Welfare Implications of Ear Cropping-Dogs."
3. Fetch by WebMD (2022), "Ear Cropping and Tail Docking."
4. Emmanuel Oloyede, British Veterinary Association (7 May 2021), "Overlooked behavioural consequences of ear cropping."
5. Jenna Stregowski, The Spruce Pets (28 March 2022), "The Practice of Cropping Dog Ears."
6. RSPCA (2022), "End ear cropping: Dogs need their ears - and here's why."
7. American Kennel Club (26 February 2008), "AKC Statement on AVMA Crop and Dock Policy."