Ear cropping dogs is now banned in BC
Posted October 27, 2015 4:07 pm.
Last Updated November 2, 2015 5:13 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A controversial cosmetic surgery for dogs is no longer allowed in BC. The College of Veterinarians of BC has banned ear cropping.
Ear cropping is removing part of the dog’s ear so it stands up in a triangle shape. You’ll see this with breeds like Dobermans, pit bulls and boxers.
It was done centuries ago on dogs used for hunting or to protect livestock. The surgery was also done on fighting dogs. The thinking was that would stop predators from grabbing onto the dog’s ear and killing the animal. Today there’s no reason for it besides a cosmetic one.
Marcie Moriarty with the BC SPCA calls the practice outdated and cruel. “You’re basically amputating a limb, a part of an animal purely for cosmetic reasons and so that, in and of itself, is problematic.”
She has heard that ear cropping can also affect a dog’s ability to communicate. “Dogs are very expressive and they gain a lot of signals, gain and give a lot of signals by reading each other’s ears. There is some literature out there that suggests that dogs who have cropped ears give mixed signals, which can end up being problematic.”
Tail docking is still allowed, which Moriarty says is equally cruel. She’s just glad some progress is being made. The BC SPCA and the college of vets hope to move on to that surgery next.
Vets caught ear cropping can lose their licence, be fined or be charged with animal cruelty. The college of vets admits there’s nothing to stop a dog owner from having the surgery done in another province.
The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) currently requires show dogs of certain breeds to have cropped ears to participate. The CKC says it is working on changing rules to allow dogs who haven’t had the procedure in.
