Anatolian shepherd Ezra (pictured) arrived at the RSPCA's Danaher Animal Home last month.

Charity searches for home for two dogs with 'mutilated' ears.

The RSPCA has raised concerns about a surge in reports about the illegal practice of dog ear cropping in the last year.

New figures, released by the charity this week, show a 621 per cent increase in the number of reports of ear cropping and cropped ears made to its emergency hotline in the last six years. From 2015 to 2020, the RSPCA received a total of 279 reports of the practice.

Under Section Five of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, ear cropping is an illegal practice in England and Wales. However, it is still legal in other parts of the world, and the RSPCA is concerned that increasing numbers of dogs are being sent abroad for the cropping procedure, or being imported from overseas.

RSPCA dog welfare specialist Dr Samantha Gaines said: “Ear cropping is a barbaric practice that is illegal in England and Wales. But, worryingly, we are seeing an upturn in the number of reports being made to our cruelty line about dogs with cropped ears and we’re extremely concerned that this trend is becoming increasingly normalised, glamorised and popular.

“We fear that images being shared on social media and used within advertising as well as high-profile sports stars and celebrities buying dogs with cropped ears is making the look more popular and may be influencing others to do the same.”

The charity is currently looking for forever homes for two Anatolian shepherd dogs with cropped ears named Ezra and Rambo. The affectionate pair arrived at the RSPCA’s Danaher Animal Home last month.

Anyone concerned about a suspected case of ear cropping should report this to the RSPCA's emergency hotline on 0300 1234 999.

Images (c) RSPCA.