The Case of the “Dog Whisperer” and the Cruelty Behind Ear Cropping
A man who presented himself as a “dog whisperer” has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison, with the sentence suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to mutilating the ears of puppies. Moheiz Adam, from Newport, was found guilty of multiple charges related to animal cruelty, fraud, and illegal breeding practices.
Adam had previously told an undercover reporter that he could arrange the so-called cropping of dogs’ ears to give them a “striking” look. This practice, which involves removing skin at the tops of dogs’ ears to reshape them and make them stand more upright, is considered painful and unnecessary by animal welfare organizations like the RSPCA.
Animal welfare officers later responded to complaints about Adam’s dogs and discovered evidence of mutilated puppies and fraudulent pet passports at his home. These documents suggested that he was exporting animals to Romania, where ear cropping might be more acceptable or less regulated.
During sentencing, Judge Eugene Egan criticized Adam for selfishly prioritizing his financial interests over the welfare of the animals. He described the actions as “barbaric acts of cruelty unnecessarily causing them pain and suffering.” The judge also noted that Adam treated the dogs in a “grotesque, cruel and wholly needless way,” emphasizing that their welfare was ignored due to his greed.
Adam admitted to nine charges, including causing an animal to suffer, carrying out a prohibited procedure, and possessing a dog passport for fraud. He also pleaded guilty to other offenses under the Animal Welfare Act, such as causing suffering and performing unauthorized procedures on animals.
The prosecution highlighted that Adam had a history of criminal behavior, including previous convictions for drug possession, burglary, and weapon-related offenses. In 2010, he was convicted of burglary, and in 2021, he was found guilty of possessing a class B drug. He had also spent four months in prison in France for drug-related offenses.
Judge Egan acknowledged that while Adam received an 80-week prison sentence, it was suspended for two years due to a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation in the community.” Adam was disqualified from owning or keeping animals for 15 years and was required to complete 240 hours of unpaid work, 15 days of rehabilitation, and pay £2,000 toward the cost of the case.
Adam had posted regular advertisements on social media promoting his American Bully-type dogs, boasting about their size and power. He claimed to be a “hobby breeder” and denied that ear cropping harmed the animals. However, many of his posts featured young dogs with cropped ears, raising concerns among animal welfare advocates.
In 2021, an undercover journalist from Wales Investigates contacted Adam, posing as a potential customer. The journalist was offered puppies for as much as £13,000 and was told that ear cropping was illegal in the UK. Despite this, Adam offered to have the procedure done by someone else for an additional cost, claiming it could be concealed by falsely stating the procedure was carried out abroad.
After the investigation, Adam initially denied wrongdoing but later admitted to possessing articles for use in fraud, specifically the pet passport. He also accepted responsibility for eight other charges under the Animal Welfare Act.
Clive Jones from Newport council’s trading standards team emphasized the value of the investigation, noting that it revealed Adam’s illegal activities. He explained that the fraudulent pet passports were used to deceive buyers into believing the dogs had been imported and that any mutilation had occurred outside the UK.
Vanessa Waddon from Hope Rescue in Pontyclun expressed concern about the ongoing issue of ear cropping driven by social media trends. While she supports new legislation aimed at banning the importation of dogs with cropped ears, she believes there are still too many loopholes in current laws. She called for stronger enforcement and better resources to combat illegal breeding practices.
The case of Moheiz Adam highlights the need for stricter regulations and increased awareness about the ethical treatment of animals. As the demand for certain physical traits continues to drive unethical breeding practices, the role of animal welfare organizations and investigative journalism remains crucial in exposing and preventing such crimes.
