ITEMS which are used to cruelly alter the appearance of dogs have been seized after a warrant was executed.

Rossendale Rural Task Force carried out the warrant in partnership with the RSPCA under the Animal Welfare Act.

As a result, numerous items which are used to crop dogs’ ears and dock their tails have been recovered.

The practice consists of cutting off a puppy’s tail or performing an operation on their ears to make them stick up and is largely seen in breeds such as Dobermans.

Tail docking is considered to be a mutilation under UK law and the practice is illegal in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

A police spokesman said: “Numerous items have been recovered in respect of this and other offences and our investigation is now ongoing.

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