An adorable dog has been left terrified of the rain after her ears were brutally cropped as a puppy. The two-year-old bulldog named Lyla doesn't like going outside when it's raining because the water gets in her ears and feels uncomfortable.
Lyla's previous owner cruelly performed the banned procedure at home, but thankfully she was rescued by the RSPCA shortly after. Kelly and Jake Mattison, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, then adopted "angel" girl Lyla and are smitten with her, but say it's heartbreaking when she's unhappy.
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Kelly said: "The worst thing is the rain. She hates going out in the rain and finds it so uncomfortable as she can't stop the water going in her ears."
Lyla was rescued from a flat in Hanley, near Stoke-on-Trent, in November 2020 after Staffordshire Police discovered her amongst a litter of six puppies.
Three of the pups were in a semi-comatose state having had their ears cruelly cropped.
Officers also found latex gloves, bloodied kitchen roll, syringes, needles, surgical scissors and blades, a staple gun and medication.
RSPCA chief vet Caroline Allen said: "Ear cropping has absolutely no positive effect on the dog themselves and is done purely for cosmetic reasons.
"Because someone wants a specific 'tough' look for their dog. Sadly, it's a trend that, despite being illegal, seems to be growing in popularity."
Three men - Alexander Johnson, Ryan Woodward, and Michael Nolan - were jailed two weeks ago for their involvement in the cropping. Johnson was caged for 24 weeks, Woodward 19 weeks and Nolan 14 weeks.
Kelly added: "Lyla is an absolute angel and we are lucky to have her. But she is still an anxious dog and it's taken her a long, long time to trust us fully.
"Sadly, we get a lot of judgement when we're out walking Lyla, due to her ears. My husband, Jake, has been called names by passers-by who obviously believe that we cropped her ears."
Dog behaviourist and RSPCA canine welfare expert Esme Wheeler said: "Sadly many dogs who have had their ears brutally cropped can face lifelong implications.
"They can be nervous around people, head shy, and some struggle to socialise with other dogs, because dogs use their ears to communicate with each other."
Lyla's cropped siblings Diesel and Moose, as well as her uncropped littermates, Jed, Peanut and Vera, have been rehomed too.
What is ear cropping?
Ear cropping is a procedure in which part or all of the ear is removed for cosmetic reasons. It is often done with razor blades and no anaesthetic.
RSPCA dog welfare expert, Dr Samantha Gaines, explains: "Ear cropping is painful and completely unnecessary. Despite what some breeders will claim, cropping a dog's ears does not benefit them in any way.
"It can be detrimental to their health, behaviour and welfare in the short-term and in the long-term.
"Dogs have their ears cropped for one reason and one reason only; to achieve a certain 'look'. In short, it makes them look tougher, more intimidating."
Is ear cropping illegal?
Ear cropping is illegal in England and Wales, under Section 5 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
It is against the law to carry out this procedure yourself or to send your dog to a vet in this country or abroad to have their ears cropped.
In some medical situations, vets may perform a procedure called a pinnectomy that can look like the ears have been cropped. This is only done in the care of disease in the ears, and is usually required in white cats who can sometimes get skin cancer.
Why shouldn't dogs have their ears cropped?
Dogs need their ears for a number of reasons. Their ears help them to communicate with us and other animals, so we understand how they're feeling.
Their ear carriage can help indicate if a dog is worried or happy and relaxed. If a dog's ears have been removed, it can be more difficult to read their body language.
It is not yet known whether ear cropping affects hearing, but it's certainly possibly as the outer ear is shaped to capture sound waves and funnel them into the ear canal towards the eardrum.
Did you rescue a dog with illegally cropped ears? Get in touch with nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
