Cropping a dog’s ears has now been banned after a new statutory instrument was signed into law to protect dogs from “unjustifiable and needless mutilation”.

Animal-welfare charities and dog-lovers have highlighted what they describe as “a cruel and harmful practice”.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue signed the Ear-Cropping of Dogs Regulations 2023 in August, and the regulations took effect from 1 September.

The regulations will tighten restrictions already in place under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013[1].

Restrictions

They place restrictions on owning, possessing, importing and selling or supplying dogs that have been subject to this practice.

It is now illegal to own a dog with cropped or partially cropped ears without the necessary documentation, such as an import licence or vet’s certificate that the procedure was done to treat disease.

Approved animal-welfare organisations may rehome dogs with cropped ears.

The regulations also ban the owning, selling or supplying of ear-cropping equipment.

Show or competitions for ear-cropped dogs are also forbidden.

A person found guilty of contravention on indictment can face a fine of up to €250,000 and up to five years’ imprisonment.

For a summary conviction, the penalty is a fine of up to €5,000 and/or up to six months’ imprisonment.