In this instance, I can see it as necessary. But I do think a lot of times people get them because they're "tough" dogs and normally people recognize a pit by their cropped ears. This is when I don't understand the reason behind it, because I supposed there isn't much of one. I can't fathom causing my furry babies to be in pain for a cosmetic reason only. When I had my Am. Staff. people in publc would literally argue with me about her breed, because she had the cropped ears. I know they look almost identical, but she wasn't a pit.