“Well, it depends on who you ask,” my friend replied, settling in for a long discussion. “Some veterinary organizations consider ear cropping to be a form of animal cruelty and have pushed for it to be banned. Others argue that it’s a matter of personal choice and that responsible breeders can ensure the safety and well-being of their dogs during the procedure.”
I listened intently as my friend went on to describe the various methods used to crop a dog’s ears, including the traditional “show cut” which involves removing most of the ear flap and leaving a small triangle at the top, and the “battle crop” which removes almost the entire ear flap.
As we chatted, the little puppy that had first caught my attention continued to play and explore, completely oblivious to the debate surrounding its cropped ears. It chased after a toy ball, wagging its tail furiously and yipping with excitement.
“So what do you think?” my friend asked, bringing me back to the present. “Are you for or against ear cropping?”
I paused for a moment, considering both sides of the argument. “Honestly, I can see both perspectives,” I said finally. “But I think ultimately it’s up to the individual owner to make the decision that’s best for their dog. As long as the procedure is done safely and responsibly, I don’t see a problem with it.”
My friend nodded in agreement. “I think you’re right. At the end of the day, what’s most important is that we love and care for our dogs, whether their ears are cropped or not.”
With that, we spent the rest of the day playing with the little puppy, taking turns throwing the ball and watching as it bounded after it with unbridled enthusiasm. And in that moment, it didn’t matter whether its ears were cropped or not – all that mattered was the joy and happiness that it brought to our lives
As we continued to play with the little puppy, I couldn’t help but wonder about the origins of ear cropping. I asked my friend if he knew how the practice started.
My friend, who always had a funny story up his sleeve, replied, “Well, there’s an old legend that ear cropping started when a bunch of dogs were stranded on a deserted island and had to resort to cannibalism to survive. They found that the ears were the most delicious part of the dog. So, to prevent themselves from being eaten, some dogs started cropping their own ears to make them less appetizing to their fellow canines.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of the story, but my friend continued with a straight face, “Of course, that’s not really how it started. But it’s just as plausible as some of the other theories out there.”
As we played with the puppy, my friend regaled me with more ridiculous tales of dog-related lore. He told me about the time he heard a pack of dogs singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” in perfect harmony, and how a group of poodles once formed their own circus and performed death-defying stunts on unicycles.
As we talked and laughed, the little puppy seemed to be getting more and more comfortable with us. It jumped up on my lap and licked my face, tail wagging furiously. My friend leaned in close and whispered, “I think it likes you. Maybe you should take it home with you.”
I laughed, imagining the chaos that would ensue if I showed up at my apartment with a new puppy. But the idea was tempting. I could already picture myself walking it in the park, cuddling with it on the couch, and teaching it all sorts of silly tricks.
But as much as I loved the little puppy, I knew that I wasn’t ready for the responsibility of caring for a pet just yet. “As much as I would love to, I don’t think I can take it home with me,” I said, patting the puppy’s head. “But maybe someday.”
We continued to play with the puppy for a while longer, enjoying each other’s company and the simple pleasures of spending time with a new friend. And as I said goodbye and headed back home, I couldn’t help but smile at the memory of our silly stories and the little ball of fur that had brought us together.
