Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens recently welcomed a Doberman puppy into their home, sharing photos of the newest addition online. What was meant to be a happy moment turned contentious after the images drew attention to the puppy’s cropped ears. The choice sparked backlash and ultimately prompted animal rights group PETA to reach out to the couple directly with a critical letter.

As reported by the Daily Mail, PETA’s Kasey Bendoni wrote this letter to say how upset they were. “We were stunned when we saw you purchased a dog from a breeder, and judging from the comments online, we weren’t alone. Then you went another step further and had the puppy’s ears chopped off?”

The letter goes into more detail on the organization’s standpoint: “Ear cropping is excruciatingly painful and, as cruel as it sounds, permanently disfiguring them for no reason other than to achieve a certain look.”

Some breed enthusiasts and the American Kennel Club’s breed standard for Dobermans advocate the procedure for traditional or health reasons, such as lowering the risk of ear infections. However, major veterinary organizations are against it. The letter conveyed as much: “Many veterinarians refuse to perform the procedure, which has been banned in many European countries.”

The American Veterinary Medical Association has also formally opposed ear cropping when done for cosmetic reasons, citing risks tied to anesthesia, post-surgical pain, infection, and interference with natural canine communication.

In the United States, ear cropping is not prohibited at the federal level, meaning legality varies by state and local jurisdiction. Several states either ban the procedure outright or impose strict regulations, such as requiring licensed veterinary oversight and anesthesia, according to pet information site Nahf.

Bendoni added, “Dogs love us just the way we are – the very least we can do is return the favor and never subject them to mutilation surgeries like the one your new puppy endured.”

PETA’s criticism goes beyond the surgery and questions the whole idea of buying from a breeder.

“As long as people continue to buy dogs when so many await loving homes, we will always be in a homeless animal crisis. Imagine what it’s like to work in a shelter—agonizing every second about the flood of animals coming in and working tirelessly to try and find homes for those who fill cages—only to see someone of your popularity and influence posing for a breeder’s Instagram page,” the letter remarked.

“It’s simple math: 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.”

The controversy gained traction after Regal Empire Dobermans shared photos from the couple’s visit, publicly confirming the purchase. “We would like to give a monster shoutout to @simonebiles @jowens and @joshua_blackwell,” the breeder wrote. “We truly appreciate you all for selecting @regalempiredobermans to provide you with your new Doberman puppies.”

As criticism mounted in the comments, the breeder’s responses further intensified the backlash. When one user questioned the practice: “Why do you still dock the ears? It’s cruelty and purely cosmetic for human enjoyment,” the account replied bluntly, “Because I can …. Next question.”

Another commenter urged adoption over purchasing, writing, “ADOPT DON’T SHOP!!!! We adopted a beautiful pure bread [sic] doberman!!” Regal Empire Dobermans responded, “And that’s great for you meanwhile the rest of the world can do as they wish just like you did… You scream virtue signaling.”

On its website, Regal Empire Dobermans states that its puppies’ ears are cropped between seven and nine weeks of age and claims the procedure improves hearing and helps prevent ear infections, assertions that remain disputed by veterinary authorities.

As of now, neither Biles nor Owens has publicly responded to the criticism or PETA’s letter.

Biles’ relationship with her dogs has been shaped by very different choices over the years. That context matters now, as the reaction to her newest dog has unfolded differently from what has come before.

Simone Biles’ deep connection with her pets

Simone Biles has long spoken about the role dogs have played in her life, a bond that dates back to her childhood growing up around pets. That connection became more visible during the aftermath of the Tokyo Olympics, when Biles leaned on her dogs for emotional stability after stepping away from several events in 2021 due to the “twisties.”

At the center of that support were her two French bulldogs, Lilo and Rambo, both of whom Biles adopted in 2018 and 2020, respectively. The dogs were with her when she returned home following the Games, a period she has described as mentally taxing as she worked through anxiety, public scrutiny, and recovery away from competition.

“I definitely struggled after the Tokyo Games, and coming home to Lilo and Rambo gave me a special kind of support I didn’t realize I needed,” Biles told Healthline. She added that their presence helped ground her during a time when stepping away from gymnastics also meant stepping away from structure and routine.

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That distinction matters amid the current criticism. While Biles is now facing backlash tied to purchasing a Doberman puppy from a breeder, her existing French bulldogs were adopted, not bought, reflecting a different set of choices than those at the center of PETA’s letter. In light of this connection, it will be interesting to see what Biles’ response to the whole controversy will be.