An American Bully dog show which was due to be held in Trafford has been cancelled amid concerns from animal welfare charities, police and the local council.
The event, run by the American Bully Kennel Club (ABKC) UK, was due to be held earlier this year in Coventry, but was cancelled after a BBC Panorama investigation.
Organisers of the show had arranged for it to take place at the Bowler's Exhibition Centre in Stretford today (Saturday 8 April), but the venue has since pulled out, after 'extensive consultation' with local authorities, police and the RSPCA.
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It comes after Trafford Council expressed concerns about the event, and added that they did not 'support any events where the welfare of animals could be put at risk.'
The BBC investigation showed American bully-type dogs with cropped ears getting prizes at a previous show ran by the ABKC. The practice involves skin at the top of dog's ears being cut off to reshape them, and is illegal in the UK.
Journalists from the BBC's Panorama and Disclosure programme also secretly filmed in the house of an ABKC qualified judge and found two 10-week old puppies in a cage with freshly cropped ears.
The ABKC dog show organiser, Sean Main, previously told the BBC there was nothing illegal about the show. "It's not illegal for a dog with cropped ears to be imported into the country," he said.
He declined to confirm if all cropped-eared dogs to be shown at the cancelled show in Trafford had been imported into the UK.
The Manchester Evening News approached Mr Main, who was listed as the organiser of the event due to be held in Trafford, but he did not provide a comment.
A spokesperson for the Bowlers Exhibition Centre said: "After careful consideration and extensive consultation with local authorities, police, and the RSPCA we have come to a mutual decision to cancel this weekend's ABKC dog show due to take place at the centre on Saturday."
In a statement, Trafford Council said: "We are pleased that the Bowlers venue has decided to cancel Saturday's dog show in light of concerns from ourselves, Greater Manchester Police and animal welfare organisations.
"The council does not support any events where the welfare of animals could be put at risk."
The RSPCA welcomed the decision to pull the plug on the event. Dr Samantha Gaines, from the RSPCA’s charity’s companion animals department, said: "We raised our concerns with the centre and, after considering the impact of holding this event, they have listened and done the right thing. Cruel practices such as ear cropping should not be applauded."
She added: "The BBC’s recent Panorama and Disclosure documentaries raised some really concerning questions about the welfare of many dogs being shown at these events - with the prominence of dogs with cropped ears a real worry for the RSPCA."
The charity is calling on the government to close a loophole which allows dogs with cropped ears to be imported into the UK.
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