Some say that it's cruel and inhumane, others say that it's necessary for safety and to convey proper breed type in certain dogs -- but is ear cropping and tail docking the right thing to do?
You be the judge: vote in the poll below on whether or not ear cropping and tail docking should be illegal. After you vote, post a comment below to share your opinion with other dog owners. Voice your opinion now!
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Comments
As a long time breeder of Irish Terriers, a breed with docked tail and dewclaws removed, I can safely say none of the over 60 pups coming from my kennel and nearly 80 pups I have witnessed those procedures performed on suffered during or after my vet performed the procedures and certainly none suffered going through life from it either. I wonder if perhpas we should stop slapping babies bottoms to get them to breath at birth becuse it makes them cry momentatily. Isn't the infliction of that pain inhumane? Or perhas we should banish self mutilation in the form of tattooing or body piercing as inhumane? Certainly the sight of it is to some of us.
I would think if it was cruel and inhumane, it would be very difficult to find a vet to perform these proceures?? I understand from my vet that these are much safer and much less invasive then nuetering your pet.
All surgical procedures, if done by a licenced vet are not inhumane. There is more danger with invasive surgeries like spay and neuter than tail tocking, ear cropping and dew claw removals.
How nice that breeders know what their dogs are feeling and whether or not they feel pain. I've heard of animal communicators, but this takes the cake. Spay/neuter is done to prevent unwanted litters from ending up euthanized (killed) in animal shelters, and it actually improves the health of the animals. No breast or testicular cancer, no pyometria, no false pregnancies, no territorial fighting, no roaming to find sex, no complications during breeding or labor. Cropping and docking are purely cosmetic, and done only for the aesthetic preference of the owner, not for the benefit of the dog. I'll include declawing cats in the "should be banned" category - done only for the comfort of the owner, not for the benefit of the cat. These are unnecessary, arbitrary and painful surgeries and should all be banned except for medical necessity (i.e. injured tail, ear or claws). I don't include dewclaws in this category because of the strong possibility of injury if the dewclaw catches on something
By the way, veterinarians do lots of things that are not for the benefit of the animal. They perform cosmetic surgeries because they get paid for it. Vets work in slaughterhouses, which obviously do nothing to help animals - the vets are there to make sure the bodies won't make people sick when they eat meat. Ethical veterinarians advise against ear cropping or tail docking or cat declawing, and many refuse to perform these procedures.
And yes, I am a vegetarian. I'm not an animal communicator, but I can tell that when a dog or cat is screaming that it is in pain.
I've had Boxers for over 20 years- the tail docking and ear cropping is for health reasons. Have you ever seen an undocked Boxers tail? they whack it on hard surfaces wagging so much that it is a mass of sores. They end up getting the tail docked later in life when this happens and is harder on them. The ears are done to prevent hematomas from shaking heads and scratching. They also have little or no ear infections after cropping. When my Vet performs the surgery, my dogs have little or no pain because of the way he does it. He is a very compassionate person- Crying with me over the loss of a beloved pet- So if he felt it was wrong, he would refuse to crop and dock. Get to know the breed and its history before you make uninformed decisions, please!
have any of you people who are suggesting that tail docking and dewclaw removal is painful and inhumane, ever witnessed an EXPERT (not necessarily a veterinarian) do this procedure? it is a little squeak from the puppy as it is being held; a drop of blood; and it is all over and the baby is back with the mother who then licks it clean and all is well in puppyland.
anthromorphism (look up meaning in dictionary) appears to be alive and well among the unknowledgeable!!!!!
I think it is necessary in some working and hunting breeds. Why should it be outlawed? Humans modify their bodies all the time, so what is the difference?
All surgical procedures, if done by a licenced vet are not inhumane. There is more danger with invasive surgeries like spay and neuter than tail tocking, ear cropping and dew claw removals.
Maureen wrote that spay/neuter "actually improves the health of the animals." That is a lie. Many females have to be put on hormone replacement for the rest of their lives because of being spayed. Spay is an invasive surgery that also has the risk of secondary infection which can kill. While I agree it is necessary for shelter adoptees, it does NOT make their healthier. Does a hysterectomy make a woman healthier? Nope. A neuter that requires looking for retained testicle is also very invasive and carries great risk.
At least ear cropping, tail docking and dew claw removal are not invasive. And when done by a licensed veterinarian, they are definitely not inhumane.
I have had boxers for 15 years and have participated in tail docking and ear cropping. I travel 6 hours for the vet I prefer to crop- it is done with the precision of a plastic surgeon. My puppies always do well and within a hour of wake up, are out and playing rough and tumble. On the other hand, my frenchie has dew claws and recently torn one while playing- big mess and she was in pain for several days....my next frenchie will have dew claws removed- btw my average ear crop is around $500/puppy but well worth it.
i have tattoo's and body mod's, i also have a Giant Schnauzer bitch that is cropped and docked. Just like i pay a premeium for my work i pay a premeium for hers! If these procedures are outlawed and drivin underground the dogs will pay, big time! hacks will do them in their make shift OR and dogs will suffer and die! The law that we should be discussing is to have these procedures done by an approved vet at a cost that reflects the care the animals desirve and are given in a respectable vet clinic! My bitch is a modern day working dog and with her ears full and tail long the vet bills would mount! I am a C6 quadraplygic and she is my service dog!
My Boxers have their ears cropped and tails docked. When their ears are done it is by a veterinarian who medicates for discomfort post-op and during recovery at home. The dogs sleep in my bed and have their teeth brushed every night. I have breast implants. We all look great! Both are surgical procedures that should continue to be a decision made between Dr. and client. Neither procedure is anyone else's business.
When a dog's tail can't heal because of repeated wagging/breaking up & spraying a fine mist of blood all over the walls.... and has to be docked to get it to heal properly and the dog is in terrible pain because of it--you BET I believe in docking & cropping by a licensed veterinarian!
PS-for all the tree hunging granola veggins that are in a flap, beat it! You have a choice to be a pain in the ass, let me choose whats best for my dog!
I think a person should be able to do What they want to do. You BET I believe in docking & cropping by a licensed Vet.
whats next banning circumcision on people,tattooing,ear piercing,boob jobs????
nuetering your pet???
FREEDOM and CHOICE is whats its all about.
temporary pain for a lifetime gain
its just cometic surgery by a licenced veternarian
there will always be bleeding heart pansies out there that will want to BAN something.
Cropping and docking should be a matter of choice. No govermental entity should even be putting this matter on the table for discussion anymore than they should be putting Mandatory Spay/Neuter on the table. Our country is having enough problems as it is without worrying about something that is nothing more than an Animal Rights Activist driven agenda. Attempting to ban cropping and docking procedures is only another attempt by the PETA and H$U$ radicals to strip the law abiding American of their Right to choose. Absolutely cropping and docking should not be "outlawed" any more than circumcision should be "outlawed".
As a breeder of cocker spaniels for many years--it is done before the fifth day and is just cartilage and the puppies don't even flinch. If you want to hunt your dog, you do not want a tail flailing away and scaring the birds. AND breeders should do it as they understand the growth of their line and vets don't! Never do it after the tenth day!!
Maurine wrote " Spay/neuter is done to prevent unwanted litters from ending up euthanized (killed) in animal shelters, and it actually improves the health of the animals." Improve health? Really? Have you ever owned a female who has been spayed at 6 months old and spent the rest of her life on medication for incontinence due to the proceedure? Well i have and let me tell you after suffering through the 11 years of UTI's and clean ups of her issues and watching the embarassed look she had in her eyes everytime she left a puddle i can assure you it does not make an animal healthier nor is it done for health reasons. Get your facts straight.
Docking and cropping is a necessity in working breeds and limits damage that can be done to that breed. By doing these proceedures we are protecting our breeds from future health issues that would come up had these proceedures not been done
Its more than just "conveying proper breed type." Tail docking in certain sporting dogs was begun to prevent tails from becoming cut, sore and infected when dogs go into brush to flush game and birds. Tail docking is humane when done at 2-3 days of age by a vet; hunting with certain breeds with intact tails is not humane as tails are vulnerable to serious injury and may then require amputation.
Tail docking directly relates to breed purpose.
And to in response to Maureen: dogs NEED their sex hormones to mature properly. Read Chris Zink's research. Moreover, there is research suggesting intact animals have lower incidence of the 3 most common cancers: hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma and osteosarcoma. Breast and testicular cancers are much rarer and are easily cured with s/n. My intact males are happy, healthy; they don't roam or fight. It is about responsible dog ownership.
proud owner of a purebred golden retriever and a purebred spinone italiano with a docked tail
There's nothing wrong with cropping and docking, performed by a veterinarian. If you want to outlaw "elective" surgeries, you'd have to ban spay and neuter too. No dog would "choose" to be altered!
I get where you are coming from Maureen, I do not believe that you've done enough research into this to understand the whys & wherefores of cropping/docking. It is MUCH more painful in the long run, if the dog has hurt his tail to the point where it cannot heal & needs to be docked at a much later time. As others have said, these procedures are done as preventatives, just as you state spay/neuter is. However, prohibiting c/d is not the way to go either. None of us dog owners wish to cause pain in our companions. We wish to keep them whole at least until they have had the opportunity to mature & if it is PROVEN to be healthier (as of this moment, that is not the case), then that should be left for us to decide, just as much as it is for us to decide where we live, what we believe in, etc. No more can you know how much pain is involved at that early stage than anyone else, as dogs react differently to pain just as humans do. How do you react to a hard pinch? W/pain, yes?
As an operator of a boarding kennel I see many dogs injure their tails from just being happy. They break and abrade the tips whacking it against an object. The recovery time can take anywhere from 3-12 weeks of constant wraps, medications, and the dog wearing an e-collar to prevent licking at the injured site.
Docking should be evaluated seperatley from Ear croping.
Breeds of dogs through genetics have differing tail design, many are thin and whip like and thus easily broken, those which have very short coats are injured more frequently, than say a Husky or Labrador with a thicker bone and heavier coat. The decision to dock or not should rest with those most familiar with respective breeds.
Maureen Koplow wrote: "Ethical veterinarians advise against ear cropping or tail docking or cat declawing, and many refuse to perform these procedures."
I will agree with you there...these same Veterinarians join organizations such as PETA and HSUS who by not following their organizations "Name" are NOT "Ethical" they go out adopt healthy animals from shelters and KILL THEM in the name of ETHICS. Or like the HSUS they go out and claim to help during disasters and where owners were forced to leave pets behind..they "rescue" them and never let owners get them back. They kill them and ship them off accross the country so that they may never be reunited with their rightful homes.
Groups like the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights, infiltrate true Veterinary associations to force their radical agendas down the general public's throats.
Your right to be a VEGAN is not taken away from you and neither should the RIGHTS of those who thrive on a Meat and Veggie diet.
Tail docking, dew claw removal, spaying and nuetering, and ear cropping should all be left up to the owner of the animal and their vet. I am sick of laws popping up to control every single part of everyones life. The land of the "free" is turning into a rediculous place with all these rules.
Vegetarians, vegans, PETA/HSUS members, tree-huggers: GET OVER YOURSELVES! You try to impose your beliefs on everyone else and expect them to conform to your standards. You believe what you want and leave me and people like me alone to believe what we want. If someone tried to tell you that you had to eat meat...you'd probably go yelling and screaming. Well get off your soapbox and quit telling others what to do. My hunting dogs and I are doing just fine and looking forward to hunting season.
I do agree with tail docking as it is done within the first three days. I like Giant Schnauzers either way; as I have had one with uncropped ears and he was handsome. I now have one with cropped ears and he too is handsome. I believe this should be left up to the breeder and the potential owner. When chosing to crop ears it must be done by a veterinarian.
Breeds have been this way for 100 of years. Dogs left natural have more health risks. Long ears, ear infections, long tails get caught in field work, terriers that go to ground will have the tips of the tails pulled off when you try to take them from game. This is why it was done so many years ago. Just like sheep with long tails see what happens to them.
People need to remember that many of these breeds are no longer widely used for working, and that they are mainly companion pets. As such, they are not subjected to work hazards that would damage their ears or tail, and as long as their owners are taking proper steps to maintain them, (regular ear cleanings to prevent infection, etc.) then there is absolutely no harm in leaving a dog with its natural ears and tail. It should also be noted that ear and tail docking has been banned in England, Scotland, Germany, and in many other countries where most of the cropped/docked breeds were developed. The American Kennel Club is the only dog registry that still shows preference to cropped/docked dogs in the show ring, and that is where many people get the idea that if they own a dog of a certain breed, it MUST be docked. Also, I don't think this poll implies that some think its wrong when a dog has to have a tail amputated because of an injury. Its talking about cosmetic docking, clearly.
Absolutely, it is inhumane. Docking typically involves cuttng the tail (which is part of the spine) off of a three day old puppy without any anesthetic. It is painful, cruel and serves no medical purpose.
My Rat Terrier, Pilgrim, is the first UKC Champion in conformation in the USA with his beautiful long tail intact! He is more balanced, out-going and self assured than dogs who have lost their tails.
Let me just add this. It's time the U.S. joined the more civilized countries and stopped mutilating dogs for breed standards. Purhaps some exceptions should be made for actual hunting and working dogs. However, I would like to see some objective studies on actual tail injuries on docked vs. non-docked working dogs. It's time to change our K-nine "culture" in this, the most reactionary of countries! There are certainly better arguments for spay/neutar than docking and cropping. Also, please note: I'm not a member of PETA or a vegan, anti-hunter,etc. Just a pain-in-the-ass tree-hugger, bleating-heart animal lover!
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