Television personality and animal rights advocate, Olivia Attwood, joined animal welfare charity, Battersea, outside the Houses of Parliament to mark a major milestone in the fight to end ear cropping on animals.
New legislation is set to ban the import of dogs with cropped ears and other illegal mutilations, finally closing a loophole that has allowed the practice to continue in the UK under the false claim it was ‘done abroad’. The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets) Bill will also introduce new safeguards to prevent puppy smuggling and protect young or pregnant animals.
Olivia Attwood said: “This law change has been a long time coming. Too many people still think that ear cropping is a trend worth sacrificing their pets’ welfare for. Aesthetics never justify animals’ suffering.
“It’s thanks to the work of charities like Battersea that we’re finally seeing a major legal loophole closed. Pet owners will no longer be able to hide behind claims that their cropped-eared dogs were imported from abroad, when the procedure was done illegally at home. Together, we’re putting a stop to dogs being mutilated for a statement.”
Social media has played a significant role in ‘glamorising’ cropped ears dogs with new research carried out by Battersea revealing that nearly a third of people (28%) have seen dogs with cropped ears online – making it the main way the public are exposed to the mutilation in the UK.
The research also found that exposure to cropped eared dogs online can fuel demand for a ‘certain look’, with almost half of those polled (44%) who had seen dogs with cropped ears on social media, agreeing that this has influenced more people to get their dogs ears cropped.
Olivia’s presence today, alongside Dr Danny Chambers MP, Dr Neil Hudson MP, and The Lord Trees, who have been key players in pushing the Bill through Parliament, highlights a growing demand to end the brutal practice once and for all.
Peter Laurie, Chief Executive of Battersea, said: “This Bill represents a significant step forward for animal welfare in the UK. Battersea has campaigned for years to close this regulatory loophole and end the emotional and physical suffering that many animals who come into our care have previously been subjected to.
“We are grateful to everyone who has championed this legislation and welcome the long overdue protections it will provide for vulnerable animals.”
Danny Chambers, MP for Winchester (Lib Dem), said: “As a trained vet, I’ve treated many dogs with cruelly cropped ears or docked tails, leaving them physically scarred and emotionally traumatised. Knowing this Bill will have a bigger impact on animal welfare than I could possibly have achieved in a lifetime treating individual animals, demonstrates how important this legislation will prove to be.
“Thanks to the support of organisations like Battersea and other animal welfare charities, we got the Animal Welfare Bill through the Commons, through the Lords, and it’s now on course to become law.”
The Lord Trees said: “This new legislation will markedly improve the welfare of dogs and cats in the UK. It will close loopholes that have enabled the large-scale, commercial smuggling of dogs under the guise of the pet travel scheme, dogs which have frequently been kept in poor conditions, are not socialised and are vulnerable to ill health.”
The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets) Bill is poised to pass after receiving it’s third and final reading on 21 November 2025 and is expected to achieve Royal Assent in the coming days.
