Cosmetic procedures including ear cropping and tail docking are banned in the UK but persist in other countries and affect dogs imported or bred abroad.
Ear cropping and cosmetic tail docking cause acute pain and carry infection risk, performed purely for human aesthetic preference. Dogs suffer for a human fashion choice with no benefit to the animal. UK legislation correctly prohibits these procedures, but online trends and imported dogs undermine this protection. Consumer awareness of the origins of cropped-eared dogs reduces demand that drives illegal procedures.