The BBC filmed undercover at an ABKC UK event in Manchester in July
An international dog show which was canceled after a BBC investigation into animal welfare concerns is to be held at another venue.
The venue ended its deal with organizers after the findings, which showed American bully-type dogs with cropped ears were receiving prizes.
The event will now take place in Manchester on Saturday.
Ear cropping involves cutting the skin at the top of dogs’ ears to reshape them, which, in the case of the American bully, makes them straighter.
The practice has been branded “cruel” and “mutilation” by welfare organizations and is illegal in the UK under the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
The investigation by the BBC’s Panorama and Disclosure programs also saw a journalist secretly filming the home of a qualified ABKC judge.
They found two 10-week-old puppies in a cage with freshly cropped ears.
Dogs found with freshly cropped ears
The ABKC UK Bully Festival, originally scheduled for February, is now set to take place on Saturday at the Bowlers Exhibition Center in Manchester.
Dr Samantha Gaines, from the RSPCA’s companion animal department, said the association was “concerned” about the event going ahead.
She said the BBC investigation had “raised some really concerning questions about the welfare of many of the dogs featured at these events – with the predominance of dogs with cropped ears being a real concern for the RSPCA”.
“We urge instead to clarify what assurances they have received regarding the welfare of the dogs who will be on display and that cruel practices such as ear cropping will not be applauded – and to cancel this event if such assurances do not can be given,” she said.
“Dog ear cropping should never be celebrated.
“Unfortunately, despite this, too many people still think it is a desirable aesthetic trait and inflict it on dogs for no other reason than their appearance.”
The RSPCA said it had seen an increase in corn cutting incidents in recent years.
A spokesman for the Bowlers Exhibition Center said it could not pull out of the show because it was legally contracted to host it.
He said if there was “any evidence that these people are operating illegally, we would cancel the event immediately.”
“Unfortunately, we are under contract and withdrawing would expose us to legal challenge,” he said.
“This is a legal issue rather than a moral or personal one.
He added that if the organizers “contacted us about holding the event tomorrow we would look at the situation in a completely different way”, but said ABKC UK had given him assurance that every dog with cropped ears to show had had the procedure carried out abroad.
Dog charity Hope Rescue said it has seen an increase in the number of American Bully-type dogs with health problems.
ABKC dog show organizer Sean Main told the BBC there was nothing illegal about the show.
“It is not illegal to import a dog with cropped ears into the country,” he said.
He refused to confirm whether all the ear-cropped dogs to be displayed at the upcoming exhibition had been imported into the UK.
Dog charity Hope Rescue said it has seen an increase in the number of American Bully-type dogs with health problems.
Its founder, Vanessa Waddon, said she was “deeply concerned that ABKC continues to put on shows promoting dogs with mutilated ears.”
She added that she hoped venues would “refuse to host” ABKC events.
It has received cross-party support and support from organizations including the RSPCA, Dogs Trust and the British Veterinary Association.