Simone Biles has faced criticism for acquiring a puppy from a breeder who subjected the dog to a controversial and deemed ‘unnecessary’ surgery.
The 28-year-old gymnastics star, along with her husband Jonathan Owens, appears to have added a new dog to their household, as revealed in an Instagram post. This news surfaced when Regal Empire Dobermans, a breeder in Atlanta, Georgia, posted photos of Biles and the NFL player collecting their new pet.
“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,” the breeder announced.
“We know they will be great additions to your families!”
The post has sparked controversy as observant fans noticed the Doberman’s ears had been docked, a practice considered controversial and illegal in various countries.
Experts note that some dog owners opt to crop their pets’ ears for aesthetic purposes, to prevent ear infections, or to avoid injuries from other animals.
However, the RSPCA states 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 explained.
Instagram users have actively debated Biles’ decision, with one commenting: “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 added.
Another critic stated: “ADOPT DON’T SHOP!!!! We adopted a beautiful purebred Doberman!!”
“Vile @simonebiles supports animals being mutilated for aesthetics. Genuinely thought she was a good role model,” another user expressed.
One more individual 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 breeder defended the practice of ear docking.
He informed TMZ: “This is a procedure done by licensed veterinarians in the US. It’s common practice.”
He further claimed that the seven-time gold medalist did ‘nothing wrong’ by purchasing the Doberman.
The breeder insisted he hadn’t broken any laws by selling the dog to her and the Chicago Bears safety.
TMZ also reported that the breeder had received threats due to the ear clipping.
In a letter seen by the Daily Mail, the nonprofit organization PETA expressed their shock at the couple’s decision to buy a dog instead of adopting 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 that animal enthusiasts 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).”
Representatives of Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens have been contacted for further comment.