گوش‌بری: the law by country

Amputation is banned except on veterinary indication. Dogs with ears or tail amputated contrary to animal welfare law may not be shown, and shows with them may not be held. TierSchG s.12(2) only authorises a future import rule.

Removal only by a vet to diagnose or treat injury, disease or infection. Cropped dogs may not be shown or compete; sale or supply is banned except by listed rehoming charities; import only under licence with a vet's certificate of veterinary purpose and notice; possession restricted for later croppings; cropping equipment restricted to vets.

Exceptions only where indispensable for the intended use or for protecting the animal or others, or to prevent reproduction, as set by regulation under s.24; painful procedures need anaesthesia and aftercare. Non-farm animals born after 1 January 2008 with such procedures may not be imported, acquired, brokered, passed on (s.8(3)) or exhibited (s.8b(2)); taking one abroad for it is prohibited.

Non-vets may not perform surgical procedures; a veterinary practitioner may crop or remove a dog's ear only for a therapeutic purpose.

Medical or therapeutic reason only, by a registered veterinarian. RSPCA page updated 2024-06-03; the Act's text could not be opened because the NSW legislation site refused automated access.

A veterinarian only, believing on reasonable grounds it is a reasonable and necessary therapeutic measure. Up to 300 penalty units or 3 years.

A veterinary surgeon only, who reasonably considers it in the dog's welfare. Supplying a cropped dog needs a vet's certificate, except for an abandoned dog surrendered to a pound or shelter.

A veterinary surgeon only, satisfied it is required for therapeutic purposes. The Animal Welfare Act 2025 (SA), not in operation on 2026-11-04, will repeal these regulations when it starts.

The Act does not name ear cropping. RSPCA Australia lists it as prohibited under this Act, with a medical or therapeutic reason by a registered veterinarian as the only route.

A veterinary practitioner only, for a therapeutic effect. An owner must not allow it, or show or exhibit the dog, unless it was done before the ban or lawfully in another jurisdiction on an animal never resident in Victoria.

No WA provision names ear cropping. RSPCA Australia lists it as illegal under the mutilation offence, with a medical reason by a vet as the only route. The department's 2020 dog standard says the same but states it is policy until regulations adopt it.

Dogs and cats: banned since 1 January 2001, only on medical indication; the person performing it is fined. The agency page cites no section numbers; the statute itself could not be opened (Riigi Teataja needs a script-enabled browser), so check the current wording.

Only a registered veterinary surgeon, with the dog under an anesthetic. An unhealed cropped ear is prima facie evidence against the keeper unless they hold the veterinarian's certificate of cropping.

Only a licensed veterinarian, using anesthesia when appropriate. Misdemeanor.

Only a registered veterinarian (fine up to $250); an unhealed wound is prima facie evidence. Section 80B bars showing a cropped dog at a dog show in the state unless a veterinarian certifies the cropping was reasonably necessary.

A misdemeanor unless the dog is anaesthetized and a licensed veterinarian operates. Licence applicants must state whether ears were cut. A cropped dog may be brought in exclusively for breeding if the cropping did not violate the section.

Only a licensed veterinarian with the dog anesthetized. Whoever procures it must record the veterinarian, date and place, keep the record until the wound heals, and pass it on with the dog. An unhealed wound is prima facie evidence.

Misdemeanor unless done by a licensed veterinarian using accepted veterinary surgical protocols.

Art. 10 as quoted in the veterinary association ANMVI's letter of 13 June 2011, which says Italy ratified without reservations; art. 10(2) allows a vet's exception. The statute text itself could not be opened; Normattiva confirmed the in-force date only.

Banned in the region, save extraordinary non-aesthetic interventions needed by serious health conditions.

Not a permitted procedure; a procedure for medical treatment is outside the offence. Defra's 2021 petition response: 'not exempted under the 2007 Regulations and consequently is prohibited in England'. Import: the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 (c. 30) requires future regulations to prohibit bringing in mutilated dogs and cats; the enacted text shows only a power, commenced by regulations, and no commencement was confirmed.

Section 5(5) takes any procedure carried out by a veterinary surgeon, for diagnosis or for medical treatment outside the offence, so a lay person may not do this at all. Ear cropping is not on the lay-person list. Taking an animal out of Northern Ireland to have a prohibited procedure done is also an offence (s.5(3)). Import: the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 (c. 30) requires future regulations to prohibit bringing in mutilated dogs and cats; the enacted text shows only a power, commenced by regulations, and no commencement was confirmed.

Not exempted (the 2007 and 2010 Regulations list no ear cropping); medical treatment is outside the offence. Taking an animal out of Scotland to have the procedure done is also an offence (s.20(3)). Import: the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 (c. 30) requires future regulations to prohibit bringing in mutilated dogs and cats; the enacted text shows only a power, commenced by regulations, and no commencement was confirmed.

Not in the permitted list; a procedure for medical treatment is outside the offence. Import: the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 (c. 30) requires future regulations to prohibit bringing in mutilated dogs and cats; the enacted text shows only a power, commenced by regulations, and no commencement was confirmed.

Banned since 2001; allowed for veterinary reasons, disease control, integration into a business, or limiting reproduction. Animals with the procedure, even done where it is legal, may not be sold or enter shows, unless done before the ban. Agency page dated 5 May 2020.

Removing sensitive body parts of a vertebrate is banned, except veterinary necessity, compulsory disease control, or use and reproduction control on the Flemish Government's list (not opened). No one may enter or admit an animal with a banned procedure to a show, inspection or competition.

Art. D.36 bans the intervention, subject to its exceptions. Art. D.38: a horse or dog with an amputated tail or ears may not be entered or admitted to shows or competitions, except animals operated on before the decree. The Court judgment was opened, not the Code itself.

Ear cropping to change the animal's appearance. Listed as cruelty to animals. Text read is a municipal copy consolidated to State Gazette no. 53 of 2014; later amendments not checked.

Surgery or amputation to change a companion animal's appearance is an offence; keepers need a vet's attestation of need (veterinary reasons, the animal's interest, or preventing reproduction); imported animals need the same document, legalised. Read in the original 2001 text; later amendments (2003, 2012 and on) could not be opened, so check the current wording.

Cropping dogs' ears is named as cruelty unless done to save the animal's health or life. Confirmed by the Agriculture Ministry's reply of 24 October 2024.

Listed as cruelty. Text read on a legal publisher's copy of Act 246/1992 Sb. (last amended 1 April 2025), not the official collection.

Only where specifically required on veterinary grounds; by a vet, under anaesthetic with prolonged pain relief. Cropped dogs may not be exhibited or shown for assessment; the Food Administration may grant dispensation on proof of veterinary reasons. Earlier orders held the same rule.

Non-therapeutic surgery to change an animal's appearance is banned, and is an offence punishable by 6 months to 3 years or a fine (added by amendment in force 19 May 2022).

Nobody may crop a dog's ears and an owner or person in charge must not allow it. Cropping means surgery to alter the ear's appearance for cosmetic reasons, including making it stand up. Fine up to NZ$5,000 (body corporate NZ$25,000).

Unless a vet's expert opinion finds it in the animal's interest and a vet does it; shortening one ear by at most a quarter marks a neutered free-living cat. Consolidated text of 2013; later amendments up to ZZZiv-G of 2025 were not checked.

The Board of Agriculture states that cropping ears is banned in Sweden and warns that a cropped dog may have been brought in illegally. Operative procedures are banned unless justified by veterinary medical reasons; the Board of Agriculture may make exceptions.

A vet may operate in the animal's own interest or to prevent reproduction. Animals with a banned operation may not be sold or displayed at pet sales, shows or exhibitions, though nationals of countries where it is lawful may display animals lawfully operated on there. Date is this version's.

Always prohibited. The Food Authority's FAQ page adds that cropped dogs may not enter any show, competition or test, official or not; the question put to it concerns dogs imported from abroad too.

Surgery to change appearance or for other non-therapeutic purposes is banned, in particular these; except where a vet deems it necessary for veterinary reasons or for the benefit of a specific animal and documents it in writing, or to prevent reproduction. Does not displace the pig, laying hen and broiler regulations.

Professional rule, not a statute: binds CVBC registrants (veterinarians) only, not other people. Only to treat an injury or disease of the pinnae.

Professional rule, not a statute: binds MVMA members only, not other people. Bars cosmetic cropping to meet a breed standard or tradition.

A veterinarian may remove part of the ear after an injury or for other medical necessity.

Allowed when a veterinarian operates to treat an injury or disease or for other medical reasons necessary or beneficial to the animal's health (s.28(a)), and for agricultural practices in line with the NFACC codes or other prescribed codes (s.28(b)). Applies to any person, not only veterinarians.

A veterinarian may do it when they determine it is necessary to treat an injury or disease and document that in the animal's records (s.1(2)). Applies to any person (PAWS Act s.22). Not in force until 2027-01-01.

Allowed when a veterinarian operates to treat an injury or for other medical reasons beneficial to the animal's health (s.6(3)). Reasonable and generally accepted agricultural practices are outside the Act (s.7). The vets' own PEIVMA Bylaws s.25.2.7 also call this cosmetic surgery unprofessional conduct.

Prohibited unless a veterinary surgeon recommends it for therapeutic reasons. Binds owners and custodians, and persons in veterinary medicine for this section (s.2). Covers domestic companion animals: cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, companion pigs. Ear tipping of stray cats in a TNRM programme is excepted.

Professional rule, not a statute: binds SVMA members only, not other people. Bars cosmetic cropping to meet a breed standard or tradition.

The enacted NN 102/17 text could not be opened: read from the Government's final bill of 2017, so wording may differ. Exceptions: veterinary health reasons, reproduction control and similar with anaesthesia and analgesia; zootechnical purposes, including for hunting dogs under kennel standards.

Surgery to change a pet's appearance or for other non-therapeutic aims is banned unless a practising vet prescribes it. Art. 4.1 bars such pets from competitions, markets, auctions and public exhibitions, except with a vet's record of need, permitted-breed docking, or origin in a country where it is lawful.

A VMVT notice reprinted in the press; the statute could not be opened. Since 1 November 2024 animals with banned veterinary procedures may not be shown at events; illegal docking of a pet counts as cruelty.

An animal may be amputated only on veterinary indications or imperative zootechnical grounds, set by Grand-Ducal regulation (not opened). Keeping and selling animals amputated in breach is banned; animals amputated before the Act may be kept until death.

Surgery to modify appearance that removes or damages a body part, other than for a curative purpose, is illegal unless regulations prescribe otherwise. Such animals may not enter shows or competitions, be kept in stock, sold or bought. Art. 9 as amended by Act XXXV of 2014. Version of 3 December 2024, marked as not the latest; regulations under art. 9 not opened.

Surgery to change appearance, or not for the animal's health or preventing later harm, is banned, apart from neutering and interventions set by the implementing rules.

Banned except on a vet's finding of medical necessity, recorded in a vet's statement. Cropped dogs may not enter shows, inspections or competitions, even if cropped abroad; organisers may not admit dogs cropped after 1 December 2016; trade in cropped animals is not allowed. A draft decree of December 2025 widens the rule, target 1 January 2027; not checked as adopted.

All mutilation and permanent body modification is banned, except therapeutic need or limiting reproduction, and ear-marking community cats. Art. 1.3 excludes hunting dogs, packs and hunting auxiliaries from this Act.

Mutilation, including to keep breed or aesthetic traits, is banned; except medical-surgical reasons, sterilisation, functional need or future benefit to the animal, prescribed and done by a vet.

Mutilation for aesthetic reasons is banned; a vet may intervene for therapeutic need or functional requirement, painlessly under general anaesthesia.

Read as non-therapeutic mutilation (akrotiriasmos), which the article bans as torture; neutering and any veterinary act with a therapeutic aim are not mutilation. The article does not name this procedure.