Three men have been jailed for cropping the ears of eight-week-old puppies and leaving them to suffer.
Ear cropping is a purely cosmetic procedure and not used for any health reasons and RSPCA Inspector Jim Farr, said: "Ear cropping has been illegal in the UK for a long time, for good reason. It's a barbaric, painful procedure that's carried out purely to achieve a 'desired look' and to make a dog appear tougher.
"However, removing a dog's ears can have serious, lifelong implications for that dog. Ear cropping is a painful process in which part or all of the ear is removed for cosmetic reasons. It is illegal under the Animal Welfare Act."
