Following on from the recent introduction of the new Ear-cropping of Dogs Regulations which prohibit dogs whose ears have been cropped to be present at an event where dogs are shown, ISPCA Chief Inspector Conor Dowling attended a show in Kildare organised by Irish Bully Rising Registry (IBRR).
“This was a really timely event coming just after the introduction of the new regulations”, said Chief Inspector Dowling, “I was really pleased to see that, in advance of the show, the organisers were making it very clear on their social media that cropped dogs would not be allowed at the show”.
Conor dropped by the show and met some lovely Bullies with gorgeous floppy ears. He also chatted to dog owners and answered questions about the new regulations and how they might or might not affect Bully owners.
A spokesperson from IBRR said “We were very pleased to have Conor at the show, we felt we could portray first-hand the positive side of the bull breed dogs, the people and families who show them and who are more than willing to comply with legislation. Similar to any other breed or dog show the people with the bull breeds put just as much commitment, time, training, love and animal care into their pets & passion”.
“This event demonstrated that there can be shows for these breeds of dogs without mutilations” added Conor, “we are not going to see an end to cropped dogs overnight, but we need to get away from it being normal and having shows where Bullies with full ears compete is an important part of that process”.
