Cruelty Feud Over Irina Shayk’s Vogue Photoshoot Featuring a Doberman with Cropped Ears
- Animal welfare organization Peta has accused Vogue of promoting pet mutilation
- Ear cropping banned in England and Wales in 2006, but is on the rise
Vogue magazine is under fire from dog lovers over a fashion shoot featuring a doberman with mutilated ears.
The photos in the current issue appear to show the animal’s ears being “cropped” — a procedure in which dogs’ ears grow erect.
The practice is banned in the UK, but the dog can be seen in a shoot in New York along with Russian supermodel Irina Shayk.
Last night, animal welfare organization Peta accused Vogue of promoting pet mutilation.
A Peta spokesperson told The Mail on Sunday: ‘It is totally inappropriate to encourage people to purchase dogs that have been subjected to painful mutilation of their sensitive ears, which is illegal in the UK, except where it is medically necessary.
Dog ear cropping is banned in the UK – but the dog can be seen in a shoot in New York, along with Russian supermodel Irina Shayk (pictured)
Peta is asking Vogue to address this misstep by apologizing for the mistake and letting readers know that dogs ‘talk’ with their ears and that cutting off parts of them is not only traumatic, but also deprives them of a vital means of expression, communication. and balance.’
The spokesperson added that the photoshoot “sent a message that animals are just fashion accessories, rather than living, sentient beings to be respected.”
An image also appears in editor Edward Enninful’s monthly letter to readers.
This isn’t the first time his decisions have run afoul of animal rights activists — an ad in the magazine of the International Fur Federation caused quite a stir.
Ear cropping was banned in England and Wales in 2006, but animal charities have recorded an increase in it in recent years.
The photos in the current issue appear to show the animal’s ears being “cropped” — a procedure in which dogs’ ears grow erect (pictured)
The RSPCA said reports of mutilations rose by 1,243 per cent between 2015 and 2021.
Experts believe one reason for the trend is celebrities sharing photos of their own dogs with ears on social media.
“It’s become a fashion statement on Instagram,” says Jordan Shelley, an animal behaviorist.
A spokesperson for British Vogue said: ‘We thank Peta for raising this issue with us and for the work they are doing to protect animals around the world. The photoshoot took place in New York City and is shared with British Vogue from the US, where the practice is legal.”