THREE dogs have been seized from a Southampton home following reports of illegal ear cropping.

Police and RSPCA inspectors raided a house on Poole Road in Woolston on Monday due to concerns about the welfare of dogs at the property. 

Three dogs were seized due to concerns about dogs having their ear flaps removed or altered. The procedure is known as ear cropping or docking.

Police also found a small amount of cannabis at the house and a woman at the property was given a community resolution order for the class B drug.

Inspector Louise Taylor from Southampton East Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This is a great example of police and RSPCA officers working together to safeguard the health of animals.

“Animal welfare offences are treated seriously by the Constabulary and public support is vital to us. 

"This helps us to ensure the health and welfare of animals in our communities. 

"If you have any concerns for the safety of animals, please call 101.”

The incident is now being investigated by the RSPCA.

Ear cropping is becoming more popular for certain breeds, the RSPCA has warned, including with American bullies. 

It is illegal to crop dogs' ears in the UK. It is legal to import a dog with cropped ears. 

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Rose Milne has worked at Second Chance Animal Rescue, based at Mansbridge Road, Southampton, for 35 years.

She described cropping a dog's ears for aesthetics as "cruel". They can also be cut when dogs are pitted against each other in fights.

Police have not said whether the seized animals' ears were cropped or not.

"Cropping ears is a cruel process," she said.

"They cut their ears to stop them from getting in the way while they're fighting. It's similar to when they dock tails.

"They will use scissors to just cut the ears off of the puppies, but I have heard cases where they pick the dog up by the ears and flip it to rip the ears off.

"I cannot see why any medical reason that you would need to crop ears.

"It leaves the dog's ear canal exposed to dust, air and moisture."