China goes mousing: Vets giving pets Mickey Mouse ears as animal lovers outrage

In China, a concerning surge in pets undergoing cosmetic surgery to emulate Disney’s iconic mouse ears has raised alarms among leading animal experts. Advocates for animal welfare are urging an immediate halt to this trend, citing both physical pain and psychological distress inflicted on the animals. Reports say, an advertisement from a pet clinic in Chongqing’s Beibei district, offering a “Mickey ear” group purchase for 300 yuan (US$40), has garnered significant attention. The clinic promotes the procedure’s completion before the Chinese Spring Festival, contingent on the “factory’s” production schedule. Liu Yundong, a dean at Loving Care International Pet Medical Centre in Beijing, explained the two-phase procedure involving surgical removal, requiring anesthesia and lasting half an hour, followed by a 20 to 60-day ear-shaping phase. While legal, this surgery is uncommon in reputable urban pet hospitals, with Liu emphasizing its moral implications. Veterinarians like Chen Yong from Shenzhen Lianhe Pet Hospital caution against the surgery’s adverse effects, highlighting potential physical and psychological trauma for pets, including self-mutilation behaviors. The absence of legal restrictions in China places the onus on moral considerations. Online backlash from Chinese pet lovers is palpable, with many expressing outrage at what they perceive as animal abuse. One individual questioned the sanity of pet owners engaging in such practices, while another suggested those finding it cute should consider applying similar alterations to their own ears. A prevailing sentiment emerged that the trend reflects cruelty rather than affection towards animals. As this controversial trend gains attention, a growing chorus is calling for a reevaluation of ethical standards surrounding cosmetic procedures for pets in China.