Petition: Amazon, Stop Selling ‘Barbaric’ DIY Puppy Ear Cropping Kits

Dog lovers around the world are petitioning online retail giant Amazon.com to discontinue and ban the sale of do-it-yourself puppy ear cropping kits.

Ear cropping is the removal of part or all of the external flaps of an animal’s ear. Almost exclusively performed on dogs, it is an old practice that was once done for perceived health, practical, or cosmetic reasons. Veterinary science states there is no medical or physical advantage to the animal from the procedure, leading to concerns of animal cruelty over performing the unnecessary surgery on animals. 

The ear cropping kits—listed as “Premium Pitbull Dog Ear Cropping Kit” on Amazon.com— are sold and shipped worldwide without regard for who is ordering, without confirming whether ear cropping is legal in the region they’re shipped, and completely ignoring the agony and risk of infection that a puppy will face during an at-home, un-anesthetized, do-it-yourself ear crop not performed by a trained veterinarian in a sterile setting.

In the U.S., nine states specifically regulate the ear cropping of dogs. Connecticut, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York and Pennsylvania all prohibit ear cropping except by a licensed veterinarian while the dog is under an anesthetic. Illinois prohibits animal torture but makes an exception for alteration of an animal done under the direction of a licensed veterinarian. Maine prohibits mutilating an animal by irreparably damaging body parts but makes an exception for conduct performed by a licensed veterinarian. Massachusetts prohibits ear cropping except when performed by a licensed veterinarian and Washington prohibits ear cropping except when it is considered a customary husbandry practice.

In Europe, ear cropping is prohibited in all countries that have ratified the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals. It’s banned outright in Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Poland, Portugal, and many other nations while others, including Canada, Brazil, and parts of the U.S. require the procedure be done by a licensed veterinarian.

Still, for less than $40, anyone who so desires can simply hop onto Amazon.com, purchase their own DIY Ear Cropping Kit, and begin mutilating puppies in the comfort of their own home.

Recently named ‘the richest man in the world’ when online sales surged during the COVID pandemic, Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos can afford to ban the sale of the products that are not only illegal to use in much of the world but are sold for nothing more than the agonizing mutilation of young puppies.

In the U.S., a petition was started urging Amazon to discontinue and ban the unregulated sale of ear cropping kits. Please add your signature to help bring attention to the cause and ask Amazon to stop supporting animal abuse.

In the U.K., advocates are petitioning the UK Government and Parliament to ban the importation of dogs with cropped ears. Although ear cropping is already banned in the UK, numbers of dogs with cropped ears are on the rise due to companies importing dogs with cropped ears, fuelling the painful practice outside the region.

You can also reach out to Amazon customer service by chat or by phone and urge them to stop selling these items.