A cruel dog owner has been jailed for paying £200 to have three puppies' ears cropped in a banned procedure.
Warren Wesley Jackman, 40, from Birmingham, received a 16-week sentence on 13 June and was disqualified from keeping all animals for life.
RSPCA inspectors found the bulldog puppies bleeding with stitches in their ears in August 2021 and immediately seized them under police custody.
Jackson was caught after RSPCA inspector Vicki Taylor visited his home on Redditch Road in Birmingham.
Vicki said: "Police attended a flat on another matter and were concerned about the three dogs who had cropped ears.
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"They contacted me and seized the dogs, who came into RSPCA care.
"The puppies’ ears were freshly cropped and had not yet healed; they still had stitches in the wounds. The male pups' ears were inflamed and sore.
"We interviewed the man who claimed to have bred the puppies before selling them to Jackman and provided us with bills of sale.
"He told us that Jackman had cropped their ears. When I spoke to Jackman he admitted that he'd paid £200 for them to have their ears cropped."
A female bully XL, called Mika, and two three-month-old puppies, Zushi and Zino, were seized by police.
Jackman admitted two offences under the Animal Welfare Act when he appeared at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.
All three dogs are now under the RSPCA's care and will look to be rehomed with safe families.
What is ear cropping?
Ear cropping is a procedure in which part or all of the ear is removed for cosmetic reasons. It is often done with razor blades and no anaesthetic.
RSPCA dog welfare expert, Dr Samantha Gaines, explains: "Ear cropping is painful and completely unnecessary. Despite what some breeders will claim, cropping a dog's ears does not benefit them in any way.
"It can be detrimental to their health, behaviour and welfare in the short-term and in the long-term.
"Dogs have their ears cropped for one reason and one reason only; to achieve a certain 'look'. In short, it makes them look tougher, more intimidating."
Is ear cropping illegal?
Ear cropping is illegal in England and Wales, under Section 5 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
It is against the law to carry out this procedure yourself or to send your dog to a vet in this country or abroad to have their ears cropped.
In some medical situations, vets may perform a procedure called a pinnectomy that can look like the ears have been cropped. This is only done in the care of disease in the ears, and is usually required in white cats who can sometimes get skin cancer.
Why shouldn't dogs have their ears cropped?
Dogs need their ears for a number of reasons. Their ears help them to communicate with us and other animals, so we understand how they're feeling.
Their ear carriage can help indicate if a dog is worried or happy and relaxed. If a dog's ears have been removed, it can be more difficult to read their body language.
It is not yet known whether ear cropping affects hearing, but it's certainly possibly as the outer ear is shaped to capture sound waves and funnel them into the ear canal towards the eardrum.
Do you have a dog story to share? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
