LOCAL MP Liz Saville Roberts is calling on the UK government to bring measures in to stop ear cropping in dogs.

Plaid Cymru MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd and honorary member of the British Veterinary Association, Liz Saville Roberts, has tabled a Parliamentary Motion calling on the UK Government to ban the importation of dogs with cropped ears has received cross-party backing, with support from Labour, Conservative, SNP, Green, DUP and Alba Party MPs.

An online petition organised by the British Veterinary Association and the FOAL Group has already surpassed 100,000 signatures, just two months after it was launched.

Figures released by the RSPCA show a 621 per cent increase in reports of dogs who have had their ears cropped between 2015-2020, despite the practice being illegal in England and Wales.

Liz Saville Roberts MP said: “Dogs should never be mutilated for cosmetic purposes and ear cropping can be detrimental to their health, behaviour, and welfare. It can cause immense pain to dogs and lead to irreparable damage.

“At a time when demand for dogs in the UK has never been higher, there remains too many legislative loopholes which serve as a smokescreen for those involved in this barbaric practice. The UK government should bring in tougher penalties for those involved in the barbaric practice of ear cropping, including introducing an immediate ban on importing dogs with cropped ears.”

Daniella Dos Santos, of British Veterinary Association said there is “strong cross-party political will to stamp out this barbaric trend and hope to see government taking action”.