The appearance of Ace the Bat-Hound (Batman’s dog) in DC League of Super-Pets has sparked controversy. The dog appears to have had its ears cropped, a practice that is deemed “barbaric” by The Kennel Club UK and outlawed in England and Wales under the Animal Welfare Act. Ear cropping is the act of cutting a puppy’s ears at a young age to force them to stick up, an act which The Kennel Club and others say the movie is now “normalizing.”
DC League of Super-Pets Ear Cropping Controversy
DC League of Super-Pets features a number of superpowered animals. Voiced by Kevin Hart, Ace the Bat-Hound has a moody look that reflects that of his master, Batman. He also has pointed ears, a perfect match to the cowl that Batman wears. However, those pointed ears imply that the animal had its ears cropped, with them forced to point upwards.
While ear-cropping is legal and widely accepted in the US, the film’s international marketing has reached animal welfare groups in the UK and spurred them into motion.
Posting to its Facebook feed, The Kennel Club UK wrote:
We’re concerned to see a dog with ears that look cropped featuring in the new DC League of Super-Pets film and advertising campaign. Normalising this ‘look’ via films, advertising and social media has to stop if we’re to end the damaging trend of ear cropping.
Founder of Earling Wildlife Group posted their thoughts to Twitter:
Shame on @WarnerBrosUK @warnerbros @TheRock @KevinHart4real featuring cropped ear dog in latest film DC League of Super Pets’. A painful and unnecessary cosmetic mutilation that serves dogs no benefit, banned in many countries. Just because it’s legal in US doesn’t make it right. pic.twitter.com/SCFGrEaq0y
— Sean McCormack MVB 🏳️🌈🇮🇪(he/him) (@ThatVetSean) July 11, 2022
At the time of writing, no official comments have been made about the ear-cropped appearance of Ace the Bat-Hound in DC League of Super-Pets.
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