Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Ear Crop and Tail Dock Welfare

Ear cropping and tail docking for cosmetic purposes cause unnecessary pain and are increasingly banned as elective surgical mutilations.

Key Facts

Ear cropping is banned in over 40 countries including all EU member states
Tail docking of dogs for cosmetic purposes is banned in the UK and most EU countries
Working dog tail docking exemptions exist in some jurisdictions for specific breeds
These procedures cause acute pain and can cause chronic neuroma pain at cut sites
Survey data shows most dog owners and vets oppose cosmetic ear cropping and tail docking

Welfare Considerations

Cosmetic ear cropping and tail docking cause unnecessary pain for esthetic purposes that do not benefit the dog. Banning these procedures is a straightforward welfare improvement with no adverse effects on dog health or welfare.

What You Can Do

Do not purchase dogs with cropped ears from breeders performing elective mutilations
Support campaigns to strengthen and enforce bans on cosmetic ear cropping
Report suspected illegal cosmetic ear cropping to veterinary authorities