Cruel DIY kits online

KITS that let owners mutilate dogs’ ears are on sale online, with experts warning cruel “cropping” is becoming trendy.

The painful procedure, which has no health value, involves cutting and taping the ears to make them stand up and give a more ferocious look.

It is often done on breeds such as Dobermans and American bulldogs, which are popular among footballers and celebrities.

Though the procedure is illegal under the Animal Welfare Act, unless done for medical reasons, a loophole lets pups with clipped ears and tails be imported.

RSPCA dog welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines said: “Dogs have their ears cropped for one reason only, to achieve a certain ‘look.’

“In short, it makes them look tougher, more intimidating.”

And The Kennel Club’s Dr Ed Hayes said: “We’re seeing it left, right and centre. Cropping was banned a long time ago but sadly seems to have come back into fashion.

“There are loopholes in the law which people use, such as

buying cropped dogs from countries where it is not illegal, like the US. Others are doing it themselves then claiming to have bought the dogs from abroad. Sadly, despite a crackdown by a lot of platforms, many kits are still being sold online.”

The Daily Star Sunday found them on sites such as eBay. One, advertised as a “Seven Piece Dog Ear Suture Kit Surgical Veterinary Instruments” pack and similar to the one inset, is £10 and can be shipped to British customers. Dr Hayes added: “We’re hearing about a lot of horrific cases where people have done it themselves at home using kitchen scissors and a bottle of vodka.” Animal experts say cropping can cause lifelong damage and behavioural issues. Apart from hearing, dogs use their ears for communicating and showing emotions. Comedian Ricky Gervais, who backed a campaign to prevent importing cropped dogs, said: “To think anyone would do this to an animal just for the sake of image is disgusting.”