CONVICTED (2022) | Ramadan Murati, born c. 2002, previously from Leicester but now of Folkestone Road, Walthamstow – had a puppy’s ears cropped.

Albanian national Murati was warned that the procedure to his 15-week-old dog Bully was illegal, but he went ahead with it anyway.

The RSPCA was contacted by a veterinary practice after he took the dog for a vaccination, and the vets could see he had recently had his ears cropped.

Bully was placed in the care of the animal rescue team after RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal attended.

Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard that Murati previously asked vets and the RSPCA where he could go to get Bully’s ears cropped – and was told in no uncertain terms that he cannot do this.

The inspector said: “I could see instantly that the puppy’ ears had been recently cropped, they appeared sore and red, but were not actively bleeding.

“The puppy was called Bully and was around 15 weeks old. He was friendly and on taking a closer look I could see that his ears were starting to heal and granulate, but were still sore.

“Both ears flaps had been cut, with exposure of the cartilage surfaces.”

An expert vet said that there was no evidence of any “conventional surgical technique, sutures or dressing” covering the ears.

The vet added: “In my professional opinion the patient was subjected unnecessarily to a procedure, that regardless of the medical care provided, always implicated discomfort and potential pain during and after the procedure.

“The degree of pain will have been depending on the degree and depth of the anaesthesia and analgesia that was provided when the procedure took place.”

Inspector Boal added: “Bully was also quite old to have had his ears cropped which again would have been more painful for him and he could have further health issues from this in years to come.

“I am happy to say that Bully was signed over to the care of the RSPCA and has since been rehomed to a lovely family who completely adore him.”

Sentencing | Fined £120 and ordered to pay costs of £150 and a £34 victim surcharge. At the magistrates’ court, Disqualified from keeping all animals for just two years (expires November 2024).

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