Is ear cropping considered animal abuse?

Legally speaking in America it is not. But it is painful and pointless. Years ago people cropped dogs' ears and docked their tails to keep them from injuring themselves when they worked. As most dogs today are pets and don't work in dangerous environments ear cropping and tail docking is out dated. It is cosmetic surgery, which is something only people choose. A dog does not care what it looks like but it does care about the pain of surgery. Not to mention the fact that it is mutilating parts of the dog's body that it uses for communication.