ADAM MALIK'S BRUTAL EAR CROPPING IN BRISTOL AND FISHPONDS REVEALED

Adam Malik, also known as Usman Mahmood, a backyard breeder from Fishponds, Bristol, was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison after authorities uncovered a disturbing case of illegal ear cropping involving his puppies. Born in May 1991, Malik resides at 37 Alcove Road, Bristol BS16 3DS, and operates under the company name The Dog Father SW Ltd.

The investigation began when RSPCA inspectors responded to a distress call from a concerned member of the public. On January 6, 2021, RSPCA inspector Kimily Walters visited Malik’s property in Bristol after receiving reports that puppies had undergone ear cropping procedures without proper veterinary care. The caller expressed concern over the welfare of the dogs, prompting the inspection.

During her visit, Walters was accompanied by police officers. Inside Malik’s premises, she discovered a litter of nine 15-week-old bull breed puppies confined in a cramped, makeshift kennel within an outhouse. The puppies were found piled on top of each other, seemingly asleep, but their condition raised immediate concern. Although the environment was relatively clean, the puppies’ ears were visibly red, crusty, and unhealed, indicating recent cropping and ongoing pain.

Malik admitted to Walters that he was responsible for breeding the puppies and owned their mother, Xena, and father, Pablo. Both dogs were kept outside, along with an eight-month-old dog named Skittles, which Malik also claimed to have bred. Malik explained that Pablo’s ears had been cropped before he purchased and imported him from overseas, suggesting a pattern of illegal procedures.

Further inspection revealed a female dog and her 12 four-week-old puppies being kept in a shower cubicle, which were later seized by police. All nine puppies from the litter were taken into RSPCA care, where they received pain relief to alleviate their suffering. Malik confessed to paying approximately £3,000 for the ear cropping procedure, which is banned under animal welfare laws.

The court heard that Malik intended to sell the puppies, despite the fact that they had undergone the procedure without any pain relief. During the sentencing at Bristol Magistrates’ Court, magistrates condemned Malik’s actions, stating, “You arranged for the puppies to be cropped through someone you didn’t know… [they] were given no pain relief. The puppies continued to suffer pain and wound infection, and you must have known they were suffering and they continued to suffer.”

Animal welfare expert Dr. Samantha Gaines from the RSPCA emphasized the cruelty of ear cropping, describing it as a painful cosmetic procedure often performed to make dogs appear more intimidating. She explained that the practice can have lifelong health and behavioral consequences, including chronic infections, sensitivity, and difficulty in communication with other dogs and humans. Many dogs subjected to cropping exhibit behavioral issues due to their inability to communicate normally.

As part of his sentence, Malik was ordered to serve 14 weeks in jail and was given a 15-year ban on keeping dogs, which will remain in effect until May 2036. This case highlights the ongoing efforts by authorities to combat illegal and inhumane treatment of animals, particularly in the context of unregulated breeding and cosmetic procedures that cause unnecessary suffering.