To Crop or Not To Crop, that is the question.

I was present when Macy was born and have had her since then, so naturally the question about whether or not to crop her ears came up at some point. I personally have never really liked the look of cropped ears, but there are many breeds for which cropping is commonplace: Dobermans, American Pitbull Terriers, Boxers and more.
The process of cropping a puppy's ears takes place somewhere between the ages of 4 and 12 weeks. The procedure can be done later, but most vets will not crop later because over time, the puppy's ears develop less pliable ear cartilage, which can result in a more painful and difficult outcome. Basically, cropping involves cutting a portion of the ear and sewing the ear back in place in such a way that the ears stand erect and closer to the head. Very few breeds require cropped ears as a matter of standard, depending on kennel club, and cropping is typically a purely cosmetic procedure. Amstaffs do not require cropped ears in the show ring, and word on the street is that uncropped ears are becoming more popular as the years go by.
The bottom line is that like people, dogs experience pain and will experience pain through the ear cropping procedure. Unfortunately, unlike people, they are unable to tell us how bad the pain is. Additionally, Amstaffs are notorious for their level of pain tolerance. Perhaps tolerance is the wrong word. Realistically, Amstaffs are less likely to show they are in pain, which makes it difficult for an owner to distinguish when the dog is suffering.
With that being said, I think that it is cruel to put dogs through a "cosmetic" procedure that is really unnecessary. There is no medically sound reason to crop a dog's ears, other than the owner's personal preference. Imagine someone decided that you would look better with a different nose. You are perfectly happy with the nose God gave you, but a figure of authority whom you ultimately trust with your life tells you it would be best for you to go under the knife, have your nose broken in order to receive rhinoplasty and then go through weeks of recovery in order to look just a little bit better in their eyes. Don't forget, you are unable to communicate to this person who has made this decision on your behalf, so they will administer pain medication to you when they see fit, since they are unable to tell when you actually need it. Sounds like a smashing good time, no?
I obviously sway toward the idea of not cropping a dog's ears. However, it would be unfair for me to not add the following: if, as an owner, you decide to crop your dogs ears find a reputable breeder, such as the reputable breeder you purchased your dog from, and get not one but two or three recommendations for a veterinarian that has a lot of experience in this field. For the love of Pete, do not engage in any "back alley" cropping procedures, no matter how much money you will save. And most important, I don't care if you can't afford extra costs, get your precious animal the pain medication for after the procedure and give as directed. Do not wait for a "sign" from your dog, because remember: our dogs aim to please. Just because their tail is wagging does not mean they are not in pain.
Finally, for those of you still debating, I will tell you that one of my favorite parts on my dog is her ears. They are perfectly formed and soft as silk. I could spend hours petting Macy's ears and they give her the character and personality a tail could only dream of providing.
Cheers to natural ears on an Amstaff.