(Pictured above: Sandra Stray O’Connor)
These two sisters were brought in with DIY ear crop jobs. Some one cut off their ear tips with scissors. They were not only abandoned in this deplorable condition, but they were left at the city dump. One of these little girls was deaf, not a result of the cropping, but I’m sure made her seem more unadoptable to the breeders. The breeders obviously had no knowledge of breed standards, as cattle dogs are NOT a breed that normally has cropped ears.
Despite their “croppy” beginning they had a happy ending. Sweet and friendly, they didn’t let their early treatment affect their dispositions. They still trusted humans, and finally found the right ones. They were transferred to Arizona Cattle Dog Rescue (ACDR) and renamed Sandra Stry O’ Connor & Ruth Barker Ginsburg after sitting Supreme Court Justices (2015). They were both featured in the ACDR calendar & website and were adopted by loving families.
Now ear cropping in general is controversial subject, but NEVER, EVER ATTEMPT IT YOURSELF. Most veterinarians and animal welfare organizations discourage cosmetic ear cropping today.
Ear cropping is a surgical procedure in which part of a puppy’s external ear is removed. After surgery, the ears are taped or supported for weeks—or sometimes months—to encourage them to stand upright as they heal.
The procedure is typically performed when puppies are between 6 and 12 weeks old, although the exact timing varies. These girls’ ears were definitely cropped later than that, based on the healing of the ears when we found them. IT IS A SURGICAL PROCEDURE, and requires general anesthesia and involves recovery time, pain management, and follow-up care. They definitely did not have any anesthesia for their procedure, and doubtfully follow up care & pain management.
Historically, it was done to help protect working dogs from getting injured, as hanging ears were more susceptible to injury as predators could grab them or they could get snagged on obstacles. There is also the belief that it could help keep the ears clean and less prone to infection, this is unsubstantiated. Now, it’s done on certain breeds for purely cosmetic purposes.
Ear cropping should not be performed because: it is fashionable or preferred aesthetically, to make a dog seem “more tough looking” , simply because all dogs of the breed should look a certain way, or BY ANYONE OTHER THAN A LICENSED VET & UNDER ANESTHESIA.
Most importantly, cosmetic surgery should not be performed when it provides no meaningful health benefit to the dog. Certain conditions like tumors or disease can lead to ear cropping, but those are the only situations when ear cropping is a good choice. Natural ears are healthy ears!
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