DAWN AND LOUISE MARIE HILLBECK CONVICTED OF ANIMAL CRUELTY IN BROMBOROUGH

Dawn Veronica Hillbeck, born 6 August 1993, and her partner Louise Marie Hillbeck, also known as Louise Newton, born 21 August 1995, previously residing at Whisgills, Newcastleton TD9, and more recently at Cambridge Road, Bromborough, Wirral CH62 7JA, were convicted in 2019 of involvement in illegal ear cropping of an American Bully puppy.

The duo, operating under the name BeckzBulliez, admitted to performing the illegal procedure on a puppy named Russia. A sheriff condemned the operation as a 'butcher's job,' highlighting the cruelty involved.

Four-month-old Russia had her ears surgically removed and stitched with fishing line, leaving her in considerable pain and with severely infected wounds. A veterinarian who examined her wounds described the procedure as carried out for 'cosmetic' reasons and called it 'needless mutilation.'

Dawn Hillbeck pleaded guilty to failing to prevent the removal of the puppy’s ears while in her care. Louise Hillbeck admitted to allowing Russia to be taken out of Scotland for the prohibited procedure.

The couple kept several American Bully dogs with cropped ears at their home in Roxburghshire, Scotland. The incident occurred when they were breeding American Bullies, which can sell for about £5,000 each, at their former residence in Newcastleton, in the Scottish Borders.

It was explained in court that ear cropping is banned in most of Europe but remains legal in the United States. Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser explained that the American Bully breed was developed in the 1990s from American Pit Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers. He noted that these strong-looking dogs are sometimes bred with cropped ears for cosmetic reasons, to make them appear more aggressive.

The Scottish SPCA was alerted when information surfaced about the Hillbecks' involvement in ear cropping. Officers visited their home in April 2018 and found Russia had recently had her ears removed. The wounds had been stitched with nylon-like material too tightly, resulting in redness and apparent pain. The agency reports that the pair did not seek veterinary treatment for Russia’s injuries, which a vet described as needless mutilation.

During the investigation, Russia was handed over to the Scottish SPCA. The Hillbecks claimed that their contact, John Paton of New Generation Bullies, suggested the crop could be done legally in Poland, though it was not confirmed where the actual procedure took place.

Dawn Hillbeck’s lawyer stated that his client had been told ear cropping could be legally performed in Poland and believed it might also improve the dog's hygiene. He acknowledged their naivety but argued that disqualifying them from owning animals would be disproportionate. Further, it was revealed that Dawn owned four dogs and a horse, which she would have to surrender if disqualified.

Sheriff Donald Ferguson reviewed photos of Russia’s injuries, describing them as a 'butcher’s job,’ and emphasized that the women knew the procedure was illegal and that the dog suffered as a result. He condemned the act as wrong and driven by profit, stressing the responsibility to care for animals lawfully and ethically.

Following the case, a Scottish SPCA spokeswoman noted a rising trend in ear-cropped American Bullies. She expressed satisfaction with the conviction, stating that two years prior, there were no such dogs in their care, but now an increase has been observed due to the breed's popularity as a status symbol. She reiterated that any cosmetic surgical procedure, including ear cropping, is illegal in the UK.

The court sentenced Dawn Hillbeck to a one-year Community Payback Order involving 80 hours of unpaid work. She was also issued a five-year ban from breeding or dealing with animals, which expires in March 2024. Despite the conviction, Hillbeck is permitted to keep her four dogs and horse under regular inspection by the Scottish SPCA or RSPCA.