Removal of portions of an animal's ears
This article is about the partial removal of the ears of animals. For removal of human ears, see
Cropping (punishment)
.
Cropping
is the removal of part or all of the external flaps of an animal's ear. The procedure sometimes involves bracing and taping the remainder of the ears to train them to point upright. Almost exclusively performed on dogs, it is an old practice that was once done for perceived health, practical or cosmetic reasons. Veterinary science states there is no medical or physical advantage to the animal from the procedure,
[1]
[2]
leading to concerns of
animal cruelty
over performing unnecessary surgery on animals. In modern times, cropping is banned in many nations, but is still legal in a limited number of countries. Where permitted, it is seen only in certain breeds of dog, such as
pit bull
and
bull terrier
type breeds, the
Doberman Pinscher
,
Schnauzer
,
Great Dane
,
Boxer
and
Cane Corso
.
History and purposes
[
edit
]
Historically, cropping was performed on
working dogs
as it was believed it would decrease the risk of health complications, such as
ear infections
or
hematomas
. Crops were also performed on dogs that might need to fight, either while hunting animals that might fight back or while defending livestock herds from predators, or because they were used for pit-fighting sports such as
dog fighting
or
bear-baiting
.
[3]
[4]
Early history
[
edit
]
Roman
practices were to crop dogs’ ears to avoid damage and injury in fighting hunting; with
tail docking
practiced to avoid the transmission of
rabies
.
[5]
Guardian breeds
[
edit
]
Cropping the ears of
livestock guardian dogs
was, and may still be, traditional in some
pastoral cultures
. The ears of these guardian dogs?such as the
Caucasian Shepherd Dog
[6]
and the
Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog
?were traditionally cropped to reduce the possibility of wolves or opponent-dogs getting a grip on them.
[7]
According to one description, cropping was carried out when puppies were weaned, at about six weeks. It was performed by an older or expert shepherd, using the ordinary blade shears used for
shearing
, well sharpened. The ears were cut either to a point like those of a fox, or rounded like those of a bear. The removed auricles were first grilled,
[8]
then given to the puppy to eat, in the belief that it would make him more "sour".
[7]
An alternative method was to remove the ears from newborn puppies by twisting them off; however, this left almost no external ear on the dog.
[7]
Both ear-cropping and the use of
spiked collars
were described more than three hundred years ago, as a defense against wolves.
[9]
Fighting
[
edit
]
Similar to guardian breeds, in sport fighting, cropping is used to minimize the risk of ears being bitten and held. The ears were an easy target for an opposing animal to grab or tear.
[3]
Dogs may have their ears cropped, legally or not, for participation in dogfights, themselves illegal in many jurisdictions.
[10]
[11]
Modern practices
[
edit
]
In 2000, veterinarian
Bruce Fogle
wrote:
[12]
[D]ogs have their ears partly amputated?'cropped' is the benign word people like to use?for no other reason than to make them look fierce. This is primarily a German tradition, born out of the military origins and uses of breeds like Great Danes, Boxers, Doberman Pinschers, and Schnauzers. This mutilation?I am sorry to be so blunt, but that is what cropping is?is banned in its country of origin, and in most other FCI countries. North America remains the only significant region in the world where ear and tail amputations are still routinely performed. There is no medical or work-related justification for these procedures to be performed on pet dogs. Many dedicated, dog-loving veterinarians will no longer carry out these alterations.
The procedure
[
edit
]
The veterinary procedure is known as "cosmetic
otoplasty
",
[1]
and involves the removal of a portion of the
pinnae
, the external flap of the ear. Cropping is usually performed on puppies at 7 to 12 weeks of age.
[13]
After 16 weeks, the procedure is more painful and the animal has greater pain memory.
[3]
Usually up to
2
⁄
3
of the ear flap is removed in a cropping operation, and the wound edges are closed with stitches. The ears are then bandaged. Long crops are taped until they heal into the proper shape.
[13]
The procedure is recommended to be undertaken under general anaesthesia; opponents' primary concerns revolve around post-operative pain.
[14]
American veterinary schools do not generally teach cropping (or
docking
), and thus veterinarians who perform the practice have to learn on the job. There are also problems with amateurs performing ear-cropping, particularly at
puppy mills
.
[15]
In the last 100 years or so, ear cropping has been performed more often for cosmetic purposes.
[4]
[16]
In nations and states where it remains legal, it is usually practiced because it is required as part of a
breed standard
for exhibition at
dog shows
.
[16]
In the US, although
tail-docking
,
dewclaw removal
, and
neutering
procedures remain common, ear-cropping is declining, except within the dog show industry.
[16]
Some show ring competitors state they would discontinue the practice altogether if they could still "win in the ring."
[17]
Examples of cropping styles
[
edit
]
Examples of cropping styles
Animal welfare and law
[
edit
]
The practice is illegal across most of Europe, including all countries that have ratified the
European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals
, and most member countries of the
Federation Cynologique Internationale
.
[18]
It is illegal in regions of Spain and in some Canadian provinces.
[16]
Ear-cropping is still widely practiced in the United States and parts of Canada, with approximately 130,000 puppies in the United States thought to have their ears cropped each year.
[19]
The
American Kennel Club
(AKC) and
Canadian Kennel Club
both permit the practice.
[16]
The AKC position is that ear cropping and tail docking are "acceptable practices integral to defining and preserving breed character and/or enhancing good health."
[20]
While some individual states have attempted to ban ear-cropping,
[21]
there is strong opposition from some dog breed organizations, who cite health concerns and tradition.
[22]
The
American Veterinary Medical Association
"opposes ear cropping and tail docking of dogs when done solely for cosmetic purposes" and "encourages the elimination of ear cropping and tail docking from breed standards".
[23]
In 2009, veterinary chain
Banfield Pet Hospital
announced they would no longer do tail docking, ear cropping or devocalization on dogs.
[17]
It has been suggested the cropping may interfere with a dog's ability to communicate using ear signals, however there has been no scientific comparative study of ear communication in cropped and uncropped dogs.
[24]
Legal status by country
[
edit
]
Non-canine animals
[
edit
]
Cropping of large portions of the pinnae of other animals is rare, although the clipping of identifying shapes in the pinnae of livestock, called
earmarks
, was common prior to the introduction of compulsory
ear tags
.
[49]
Removal of portions of the ear of
laboratory mice
or
neutered
feral cats
for identification, i.e. ear-notching or ear-tipping, is still used.
[50]
The practice of cropping for cosmetic purposes is rare in non-canines, although some selectively bred animals have naturally small ears which can be mistaken for cropping.
[note 2]
See also
[
edit
]
Notes
[
edit
]
- ^
Some states, including New York
[21]
and Vermont, have considered bills to make the practice illegal
- ^
Some animals, such as the
Lamancha goat
, have ears which are naturally small as the result of selective breeding, and some people mistakenly believe their ears to be cropped.
[51]
[52]
In other animals, small ears may result from a genetic mutation or the emergence of a
genetically recessive trait
, such as in
Highland cattle
, where the appearance of small ears, appearing to have their pinnae cropped, is viewed as a defect.
[53]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
Slatter, Douglas H. (2002)
Textbook of small animal surgery
3rd edition. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders (imprint of Elsevier Health Sciences), 2896 pages,
ISBN
978-0-7216-8607-3
, p.1746
- ^
"Ear Cropping: Is it right for your dog?"
. Pet MD.
- ^
a
b
c
- "Ear cropping: Correct or cruel?"
.
Briar Lea Bouvier
(blog). Glenwood City, WI: Briar Lea Bouvier Kennel. Archived from
the original
on 30 October 2020
. Retrieved
19 September
2021
.
possible duplicate page
- Martin, William M.,
DVM
.
"Ear cropping: Correct or cruel?"
.
Ears by Dr. Bill
. Flat Rock, NC: Brevard Animal Hospital (W.M. Martin,
DVM
). Archived from the original on 30 September 2020
. Retrieved
19 September
2021
.
Today, ear-cropping is a cosmetic surgery, pure and simple.
{{
cite web
}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link
) CS1 maint: unfit URL (
link
)
possibly an equivalent page, and better-documented topic-authority
- Pagan, Camille Noe (3 February 2014). Flowers, Amy (ed.).
"Ear cropping and tail docking"
.
Web MD (pets)
.
Archived
from the original on 15 February 2014
. Retrieved
19 September
2021
.
- ^
a
b
Murgai, R.P., Major (1996).
Handbook on Dogs
. New Delhi, IN: New Age International. p. 46.
ISBN
9788122408935
.
{{
cite book
}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link
)
- ^
Mills, Katelyn E.; Robbins, Jesse; von Keyserlingk, Marina A. G. (27 June 2016).
"Tail Docking and Ear Cropping Dogs: Public Awareness and Perceptions"
.
PLOS ONE
.
11
(6): e0158131.
Bibcode
:
2016PLoSO..1158131M
.
doi
:
10.1371/journal.pone.0158131
.
ISSN
1932-6203
.
PMC
4922641
.
PMID
27348817
.
- ^
Samsonova, Anna (2 February 2011).
"Caucasian Shepherd Dog (Kavkazskaia Ovtcharka)"
. Federation Cynologique Internationale. FCI-Standard nr.328. Archived from
the original
on 26 April 2012
. Retrieved
15 September
2011
.
- ^
a
b
c
Breber, Paolo (1983). "The Maremmano-Abruzzese shepherd dog".
Il Cane da Pastore Maremmano-Abruzzese
[
The Maremmano-Abruzzese Shepherd Dogs
] (in Italian) (2nd ed.). Olimpia: Firenze. pp. 98?99.
- ^
MacDonell, Anne (1907).
In the Abruzzi
. Atkinson, Amy (illustrator). New York, NY: F.A. Stokes. p. 18.
- ^
de la Fontaine
, Jean
(1862) [1678]. "Fable 9".
The Fables of la Fontaine
. Translated by Wright, Elizur (English ed.). London, UK: Miller. Book X p 74.
translated in verse from the French
- ^
Curtis, Patricia (2002).
City Dog: Choosing and living well with a dog in town
. New York, NY: Lantern Books. p. 37.
ISBN
978-1-59056-000-6
.
- ^
Robert, Thayer Sataloff; Sataloff, Joseph (2006).
Occupational Hearing Loss
(3rd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. p. 590.
ISBN
9781420015478
.
- ^
Fogle, Bruce
(2000).
KISS Guide to Living with a Dog
.
Dorling-Kindersley
. p. 66.
ISBN
0789459760
.
- ^
a
b
Practice of Dogs Ear cropping
Archived
2011-09-25 at the
Wayback Machine
[sic] Doggie's Paradise. Accessed September 2011
- ^
"Literature Review on the Welfare Implications of Ear Cropping-Dogs"
(PDF)
. American Veterinary Medical Association. 13 March 2013.
- ^
Broughton, Amy L. (2003).
"Cropping and Docking: A Discussion of the Controversy and the Role of Law in Preventing Unnecessary Cosmetic Surgery on Dogs"
.
Animal Legal & Historical Center
. Michigan State University College of Law.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
Ear cropping and tail docking
Archived
2011-09-09 at the
Wayback Machine
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies/Federation des societes canadiennes d'assistance aux animaux (CFHS/FSCAA). Accessed September 2011.
- ^
a
b
Weise, Elizabeth (30 July 2011).
"Banfield pet hospitals ban tail docking, ear cropping on dogs"
.
USA Today
.
Archived
from the original on 26 October 2012.
- ^
Fogle, Bruce
(2000).
KISS Guide to Living with a Dog
.
Dorling-Kindersley
. p. 66.
ISBN
0789459760
.
- ^
"Cropping and Docking: A Discussion of the Controversy and the Role of Law in Preventing Unnecessary Cosmetic Surgery on Dogs"
. Animallaw.info
. Retrieved
17 April
2013
.
- ^
Ear Cropping, Tail Docking and Dewclaw Removal
Archived
2011-09-03 at the
Wayback Machine
American Kennel Club Canine Legislation Position Statements
- ^
a
b
"New Call to Action for Amended NY State Crop/Dock Bill"
.
American Kennel Club
. 9 June 2006. Archived from
the original
on 18 June 2006
. Retrieved
31 December
2007
.
- ^
Abraham, S. (1993).
"Sad lesson learned"
(PDF)
. American Kennel Club Gazette, American Boxer Club. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 6 April 2012
. Retrieved
18 January
2016
.
- ^
"Ear cropping and tail docking of dogs"
.
American Veterinary Medical Association
.
Archived
from the original on 20 May 2020.
- ^
Coren, Stanley (2001)
How to speak dog: mastering the art of dog-human communication
New York: Simon & Schuster
ISBN
978-0-7432-0297-8
chap. 9 [pages unnumbered]
- ^
a
b
c
d
"Ear cropping and tail docking"
. Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. Archived from
the original
on 9 September 2011
. Retrieved
13 September
2011
.
- ^
Wynn, Susan (11 June 2014).
"World Small Animal Veterinary Association World Congress Proceedings, 2001"
.
VIN.com
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
"Υπουργε?ο Αγροτικ?? Αν?πτυξη? και Τροφ?μων | Δικτυακ?? Τ?πο? Διαβουλε?σεων"
[Website consultation].
Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Athens, Greece
(in Greek). April 2011.
- ^
"Zakon o za?titi i dobrobiti ?ivotinja"
(in Bosnian). Article 12
. Retrieved
26 March
2021
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
"Chart of signatures and ratifications of Treaty 125 - European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals"
.
Treaty Office
. 14 October 2020.
- ^
"CVMA | Documents | Cosmetic Alteration ? Position Statement"
.
www.canadianveterinarians.net
. Archived from
the original
on 19 August 2020
. Retrieved
20 March
2016
.
- ^
Cormier, Mitch (4 November 2015).
"Animal Welfare Act outlaws animal ear cropping and tail docking"
.
CBC News
.
- ^
CBC News (March 25, 2010)
N.S veterinarians ban tail docking
Accessed February 10, 2012.
- ^
"Quebec's order of veterinarians bans pet cosmetic surgery"
.
CBC News
. 6 February 2016
. Retrieved
20 March
2016
.
- ^
"Ear cropping of dogs banned in Manitoba"
.
CBC News
. 10 February 2012.
- ^
"Cosmetic ear cropping banned by B.C. veterinarians"
.
CBC New - British Columbia
. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). 28 October 2015
. Retrieved
20 March
2016
.
- ^
"Bylaws Of the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association"
(PDF)
. 17 September 2015. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 6 October 2016
. Retrieved
20 March
2016
.
- ^
"Rep sa sretnim zavr?etkom"
.
Jutarnji list
(in Croatian). 11 January 2008
. Retrieved
26 March
2021
.
- ^
a
b
c
Johnston, Beatrice L. (1970)
For those who cannot speak: a history of the Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1869-1969
City of Laval, P.Q.: Dev-Sco Publications p.13
- ^
a
b
c
d
"Animal Welfare Act 2006"
.
legislation.gov.uk
. 8 November 2006.
- ^
Oy, Edita Publishing.
"FINLEX - Saadokset alkuperaisina: Elainsuojelulaki 91/1971 (Finnish Animal Protection Law)"
.
finlex.fi
(in Finnish).
- ^
"Sous-section 2 : Dispositions relatives aux animaux de compagnie (Articles R214-19-1 a R214-34) - Legifrance"
.
www.legifrance.gouv.fr
(in French).
- ^
Ajay Sura (14 April 2013).
"Now, you can dock dogs' tail"
.
The Times of India
. Archived from
the original
on 15 May 2013.
- ^
"Minister McConalogue announces new legislation to protect dogs from ear cropping"
.
www.gov.ie
. 25 August 2023.
- ^
"A review of the scientific aspects and veterinary opinions relating to tail docking in dogs"
(PDF)
.
defra.gov.uk
. 2005. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 26 June 2007.
- ^
"Zakon o Dobrobiti ?ivotinja"
. Retrieved
1 January
2019
.
- ^
"Zakon o za??iti ?ivali (Uradno pre?i??eno besedilo) (ZZZiv-UPB1)"
. Archived from
the original
on 9 February 2010
. Retrieved
9 September
2009
.
Slovene Animal Protection Act (in Slovene)
- ^
"Djurskyddsbestammelser - Hund"
(PDF)
. Retrieved
25 January
2021
.
- ^
"5199 Animal Protection Law - Article 8"
.
Laws , Regulations in Turkey
. Retrieved
12 November
2017
.
- ^
Lexique Camarguais
Archived
2011-10-15 at the
Wayback Machine
(in French) Manade Devaux. "Lexicon of Camargue terms" Accessed September 2011
- ^
"Eartipping"
.
Neighborhood Cats
. Retrieved
24 March
2022
.
- ^
Woods, Dale L.; Hendrickson, Pat (1978),
The American Lamancha, and its Ears
, Dairy Goat Journal, archived from
the original
on 24 September 2010
, retrieved
20 September
2011
- ^
"What did you do to its ears?"
.
www.goats4h.com
.
- ^
Crop Ear. what does it look like?
Archived
2011-08-16 at the
Wayback Machine
Cruachan Highland Cattle. Accessed September 2011.