LEE FAZAKERLEY'S SHOCKING EAR CROPPING CRIME IN NOTTINGHAM REVEALED

Lee Fazakerley, a man with a long-standing history in Nottingham's dog community, has been convicted for his involvement in a cruel and illegal act of ear cropping on his Doberman, Cartel. Born in August 1994, Fazakerley previously resided on Elm Close in Pinxton, Nottingham, with the postcode NG16 6LW, before moving to Wagstaff Lane in Jacksdale, Nottingham, with the postcode NG16 5LN.

Fazakerley, who operated a dog walking and training enterprise under the name FK9 Services—later known as FK9 Kennels and Services Ltd before its dissolution—admitted to causing his dog to undergo a banned and painful procedure. The court heard that he arranged for his Doberman's ears to be illegally cropped, a procedure intended to make the dog appear more intimidating or 'scary.'

He paid a sum of £400 to an individual based in Birmingham to carry out the mutilation, which resulted in the dog suffering extreme pain. The act was carried out in violation of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which explicitly prohibits such procedures unless performed by licensed veterinary professionals for legitimate medical reasons. The court was informed that Fazakerley's actions caused significant suffering to Cartel, with the dog enduring pain during and after the procedure.

During mitigation, it was argued that Fazakerley’s mental health was poor at the time and that his dogs served as a form of emotional support for him. It was also highlighted that he had a lifetime of experience caring for dogs and that he had learned a valuable lesson from this incident. Despite these factors, the court emphasized that the act was deliberate and motivated by a desire to enhance the dog’s 'macho' appearance.

Recorder Jonathan Lee sentenced Fazakerley to four months in prison, suspended for two years. Additionally, he was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid community service and 20 days of rehabilitation. The court also imposed a four-year ban on Fazakerley from owning or keeping dogs, which will expire in March 2029.

Following the sentencing, Caroline Richardson, an inspector from the animal cruelty charity, expressed her disapproval of Fazakerley's actions. She stated, “This individual has been heavily involved in the ‘dog world’ for years—owning, keeping, and training many dogs. He should have known better than to pay someone to cut his dog’s ears off, purely for cosmetic reasons. I am glad the courts thought it was necessary to ban him from keeping dogs for the next four years. We hope this sentence deters others from subjecting dogs to this unnecessary and painful procedure. Ear cropping is not only painful during the operation and healing process, which involves inserting posts into the ears for breeds like Dobermans, but it can also have lifelong effects on the dogs.”

Statistics from the RSPCA reveal a disturbing rise in ear cropping incidents, with reports increasing by 707 percent since 2015. This highlights the ongoing issue of illegal cosmetic procedures inflicted upon dogs in the UK.

In summary, Fazakerley's case underscores the importance of strict enforcement of animal welfare laws and the need for continued vigilance against such cruel practices. His conviction and sentencing serve as a reminder that animal cruelty, especially for superficial reasons, will be met with legal consequences.