Cropped-ear dogs should not be in films or on TV, MP says

An MP has called on film, television and media outlets to stop depicting dogs with cropped ears, following a dramatic rise in the number of reported cases in recent years.

Veterinary surgeon Dr Neil Hudson, who is also the Conservative MP for Epping, Essex, has written an open letter to those in the industry which has been signed by 21 of his Conservative colleagues in Westminster.

Dr Hudson described ear cropping – made illegal in the UK in 2006 but still permitted in other countries – as “a horrific, cruel and clinically unnecessary practice”.

The RSPCA said reports of “cruel and unnecessary ear cropping on dogs” had increased by 2,000% in a decade.

Dr Hudson, who also serves as shadow parliamentary under secretary for Defra, continued: “This painful procedure, performed solely for ‘aesthetic’ purposes, involves the removal or alteration of a dog’s ears, often without proper veterinary care or pain relief.”

He said this, coupled with the lack of import regulations on equipment to crop a dog’s ears, may be causing the influx of mutilated dogs.

The RSPCA said ear cropping “doesn’t benefit the dog in any way and can actually be detrimental to their health, behaviour and welfare”.

“We urge people to not buy into the trend – the only way to stop this is by not fuelling the demand for a cropped-eared dog,” said David Bowles, the charity’s head of public affairs.

A bill that addresses the problem of low-welfare animal imports dogs, cats and ferrets into the United Kingdom is currently being progressed through parliament.

Dr Hudson continued: “The inclusion of cropped ears in media can inadvertently normalise this cruelty, misleading audiences into viewing mutilation as acceptable.”

He said popular Hollywood films such as Disney Pixar’s Up, from 2009, and Warner Bros’ DC League of Super-Pets in 2022, both featured dogs with clipped ears.

He pointed to a more recent example in the US, with the 2025 Best in Show winner at Westminster Kennel Club also having cropped ears.

The letter referenced the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937, which prohibits the use of animals subjected to cruelty during production.

The Westminster Kennel Club, Warner Brothers, Disney Pixar, and DC Entertainment have all been approached for comment by the BBC.