Mickey Mouse ears: People mutilate their dogs and cats to make them cute

Animal rights activists are sounding the alarm about the emergence of a new trend. Owners of cats and dogs cut off their pets' ears to make them look like Mickey Mouse. The procedure was invented in China, but now it is gaining popularity in other Asian countries. Veterinary clinics rarely undertake such “modifications”, but they are readily performed in nurseries.

Today, making “Mickey Mouse ears” for a cat or dog costs about $40 (3.6 thousand rubles). In addition, Asian pet stores and online trading platforms sell special clamps with which the procedure can be performed at home.

Chinese veterinarians are confident that changing the shape of the ears causes irreparable damage to animals. The procedure can significantly impair hearing and deprive the animal of the ability to communicate normally. In some cases, surgery, which many consider to be minor and cosmetic, results in the death of the pet.

To give the ears a round shape, like those of a Disney character, two manipulations are performed. The first is ear trimming under anesthesia, which lasts 20-30 minutes. The second stage is called the “laying phase”. It takes from 20 to 60 days and consists of fixing the cropped ears and adjusting them. This is an equally important process, because if the ear is placed incorrectly, the shape of the ear may turn out to be incorrect.

DIY kits that can be used at home include special clamps and detailed instructions. The devices are placed on the ears of a dog or cat and, due to the disruption of blood circulation, part of the ear dies. The kit costs only 3 dollars (270 rubles).

In China, there is a lot of talk about the barbaric operation and condemnation of animal owners who mutilate their pets. But “Mickey Mouse ears” are not prohibited by law and no liability is provided for animal cruelty. The public is fighting for the authorities to take action and begin to severely punish those who perform such operations and their clients.

Bill Lambert, director of health and breeding services at the Kennel Club (USA), argues that the procedure causes incredible harm to animals. It reminds us that a dog is not a fashion accessory or a toy. Dogs and cats use body language when communicating with each other. The ears play the most important role in this.

It is well known that animals turn their ears using special muscles. Thanks to this ability, they are better at picking up sounds. Changing the shape of the shell leads to hearing impairment. After surgery, the mobility of the ears is impaired, which leads to stress and discomfort. In addition, both the operation and the use of clamps cause pain to the animals.

Laws protecting animals can hardly be called perfect. For example, in many countries it is prohibited to crop dogs' ears. But no one forbids buying pets with cropped ears. Sometimes dogs are taken to countries where docking is not prohibited in order to have surgery performed. Animal advocates demand that the law be stricter towards those who like to mutilate animals and not leave them any loopholes.

Oddly enough, the ears of cats have not been fully studied. Scientists have not yet come to a common opinion on why animals need “Henry's pockets.”