Eye on the news

Experts concerned about pet owners in China paying for animals to get ‘Mickey ears’ surgery

SCMP
8 Jan, 2024

  • The trend has received criticism from animal experts and people online, who call it ‘animal abuse’

Experts say cosmetic surgery for pet ears could be harmful. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Weibo
Experts say cosmetic surgery for pet ears could be harmful. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Weibo
Why this news matters

Pet owners should avoid following trends that are dangerous for their animals.

Why this news matters

Pet owners should avoid following trends that are dangerous for their animals.

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Pet owners in China are paying for their animals to get cosmetic surgery for “Mickey ears” that look like Disney’s famous cartoon mouse. But animal experts are demanding this practice be stopped.

“It is rarely performed in pet hospitals in tier-one cities but is common in dog kennels and breeding facilities. Currently, there are no legal restrictions on this surgery in China. It’s a moral issue,” said Liu Yundong, a dean at Loving Care International Pet Medical Centre in Beijing.

He emphasised that the surgery could cause physical and mental pain.

The trend has received online criticism from many Chinese pet lovers. “This is animal abuse, not love,” one person said.

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