Simone Biles has come under fire after purchasing a puppy from a breeder who forced it to undergo a controversial and ‘unnecessary’ surgery.
The 28-year-old artistic gymnast and her husband, Jonathan Owens, have seemingly welcomed a new dog to their family, according to an Instagram post. The news broke when Regal Empire Dobermans, a dog breeder based in Atlanta, Georgia, shared images of Biles and the NFL star picking up the pooches.
“We would like to give a monster shoutout to @simonebiles @jowens and @joshua_blackwell. We truly appreciate you all for selecting @regalempiredobermans to provide you with your new Doberman puppies,” they wrote.
“We know they will be great additions to your families!”
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The post has drawn backlash after fans noticed the Doberman had its ears docked - a controversial practice that is actually illegal in other parts of the world.
According to experts, lots of canine owners choose to crop the dog’s earns for cosmetic reasons, to prevent ear infections, and avoid sustaining injuries from other animals.
But the RSPCA wrote that ‘cropping doesn't benefit the dog in any way and can actually be detrimental to their health, behavior and welfare’.
“Some owners believe cropped ears make the dog look tougher or more intimidating, but the process can have the completely opposite effect on their temperament and can make them anxious and nervous around people and other animals,” the charity wrote.
Instagram users have come out in their droves to debate Biles’ eyebrow-raising purchase, with one typing: “Damn - so sad to see this from Simone :( I love so much about her.
“I hope this is ignorance and she learns and vows to never support breeders again #adoptdontshop,” they continued.
A second critic typed: “ADOPT DON’T SHOP!!!! We adopted a beautiful pure bread doberman!!”
“Vile @simonebiles supports animals being mutilated for aesthetics. Genuinely thought she was a good role model,” someone else penned
Another social media user wrote: “Ear cropping and docking is illegal in the UK. As is cruel. If they wanted a doberman, why didn't they adopt one of the many thousands looking?”
The dog breeder has defended docking his dobermans ears.
He told TMZ: “This is a procedure done by licensed veterinarians in the US. It's common practice.”
He added that the seven-time gold medalist had done ‘nothing wrong’ by purchasing the Doberman.
The breeder alleged he hadn’t committed a crime either by selling it to her and the Chicago Bears safety.
TMZ also reported that they'd allegedly received death threats for clipping the dogs' ears.
In a letter seen by the Daily Mail, nonprofit organization PETA wrote that they were ‘stunned’ to see the sports couple choosing to buy a dog, rather than adopt from a shelter.
“And judging from the comments online, we weren’t alone. Then you went another step further and had the puppy’s ears chopped off?
“Ear cropping is excruciatingly painful and, as cruel as it sounds, permanently disfiguring them for no reason other than to achieve a certain look. Many veterinarians refuse to perform the procedure, which has been banned in many European countries.”
PETA also claimed animal lovers should ‘never subject’ their pets to ‘mutilation surgeries’.
“For every dog purchased, a dog in a shelter loses their chance at a home. If you were set on a Doberman, there are many rescues that would have happily worked with you to adopt one in need…
“We hope next time you’ll be kind and adopt one of the millions of animals dreaming of a better life. Thank you. Sincerely, Kasey Bendoni (PETA).”
UNILAD has contacted representatives of Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens for further comment.
Topics: Animal Cruelty, Animals, Celebrity, Dogs, Instagram, NFL, Simone Biles, Social Media
Ella Scott