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[Swiftwind]

Originally Posted by lulurules_101

and the dogs cant remember the pain of ear cropping and they can't even feel the pain of tail docking!!

I think that's a big claim to make.

I personally am against ear cropping and tail docking UNLESS it is specifically done for medical reasons - I will in no way accept the procedures if they were done for cosmetic reasons. In my opinion I think dogs look pretty silly with cropped ears - it seems so 'artificial'.

Yes, dogs may have had their ears cropped and tails docked for hundreds of years, but why can't we change that? There's no reason that we have to stay in the past.

My biggest hate is ear cropping/tail docking required for shows just because it's part of the breed standard. I personally think that's a pretty awful expectation. They should really make it a requirement to have a 'natural' dog in the ring instead of cosmetically altered dogs.

[Dog_Father]

I personally would not crop or dock. However I would rather it be legal, as several places (atleast in the US) are statrting to ban it, and people are trying to do it themselves instead of going to a Vet. I know breeders often dock tails themselves, but they are experienced at it. I am talking about the people who figure they will try and save some money and do it themselves. This just happened in MA, where a man bought two pit puppies and simply cut the ears of one of the puppies with a pair of dull sissors and without pain meds. Now I would say most people are not that inhuman, but just in case...I would rather the option to get it done by a professional be available.

[Novel]

I have to agree with you completely Dog Father. I do not think that outlawing cropping and docking is going to help dogs in any way. It will just give the bad crust of society one more way to hurt their dogs, where those who were responsible to begin with (providing proper medical care before and after docking or cropping) will continue to be responsible.

[hunterboy]

Just to letyou know:
In Germany we have a law against ear- and tail - cropping for quite a few years now. Cropped dogs are NOT eligible in most shows anymore, and you get pretty fast used to the real look of the dogs.
Exept for the VERY FEW medical indications I find cropping just CRUEL.

So long
Hunterboy

[LargeDogBreedz]

Absurd and one sided I must say. I have a dane that with cropped ears and other than having troubles with MAX trying to paw the **** stilts off, I have never had any issues with it whatsoever her ears look great. Take a look:

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Originally Posted by LargeDogBreedz

Absurd and one sided I must say.

Exactly what are you refering to as absurd and one sided? This is a debate after all.

[Houndies]

I don't like ear cropping, I feel you shouldn't alter your dog for cosmetic reasons whether it hurts or not. To me, dogs look better natural, I always feel sad when I see a puppy with a cone stuck to its head on forums so beautiful, to not! Thankfully, I don't see it in real life, on forums I can deal with it. It does seem a bit of a an extremem website though.

And I don't see how people can say it doesn't hurt. I know you can't prove it DOES hurt, but in the same way, you cannot prove it DOESN't hurt. Just because the dog acts the same doesn't mean they don't feel it. I have pain from surgery in my ankle everyday, I don't let it show, but it still hurts.

[Cassiepeia]

Originally Posted by LargeDogBreedz

How can anyone think that looks good? It looks ridiculous.

Cass.

[Punkygirl0101]

The fact you care more about your dogs appearance then anything else is sad to me. I would NEVER put my dogs through unnecessary surgery (ALL surgery is taking a BIG risk) to get a look I want. I like my dogs the way they are, I would never try and change their appearance for absolutely NO benefit to the dog whatsoever.

And I agree, it looks ridiculous.

[lakotasong]

A member of the assembly in New York State responded to a show mill who was writing to complain about a pending anti-cropping/docking bill in my state. I sincerely hope and believe that this bill will pass. There are many other humane pieces of legislation that are up and coming and eventually my state, and without a doubt this entire nation will stop falling prey to the lies of those who take advantage of dogs and we (as a nation) will do what is in their (the dogs') best interest. The following response was posted to a regional show dog list:

Thank you for contacting my office in regard to A.7218, which would prohibit the practice of tail docking. I have read the arguments from yourself and other dog owners. I have seen compelling evidence that refutes your arguments and on which I based my decision to introduce this legislation.

The American Veterinary Medical Association passed a resolution in July 1999 that took the position; “Ear cropping and tail docking in dogs for cosmetic reasons are not medically indicated nor of benefit to the patient. These procedures cause pain and distress, and as with all surgical procedures, are accompanied by inherent risks of anesthesia, blood loss, and infection. Therefore, veterinarians should counsel dog owners about these matters before agreeing to perform these surgeries.”

I have read an affidavit from Michael Weltz, DVM of the Humane Society of New York stating that the Humane Society opposes this procedure. Tail docking is totally banned in Great Britain, Sweden, Cyprus, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway and Switzerland. The Australian Veterinary Association and the Canadian Veterinary Association are opposed to tail docking because it is “unnecessary and painful.” The British Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons considers docking of dogs’ tails to be “an unjustified mutilation and unethical unless done for therapeutic or acceptable prophylactic reasons” (which specifically do not include the potential use of the dog for hunting at some future date).

I also have read affidavits that refute the commonly held misbelief that tail docking is done prophylactic ally to prevent future damage to the tails of field dogs. One study of 12,000 canine cases over seven years found only 47 cases of tail injuries from any cause, or about 0.003% of dogs seen at that hospital (D. Caroline Coile, the long and short of cropping and docking, DOGworld, 2000 March, 28-36.)

I believe that tail docking causes pain and is an inhumane practice and should be prohibited. The only purpose it serves is cosmetic. While my intention is not to disadvantage anyone from an economic perspective, the primary state interest is to protect the health and welfare of animals.

Sincerely,

Deborah J. Glick

Assemblymember

I'm glad that some members of the government put the welfare of dogs first.

[DogLover8]

Dogs should be left with the natural look and I am rather against ear cropping and tail docking. I personally would not have either procedure done to my dogs unless there was some medical need for it and wish people would stop doing it for cosmetic reasons.

However, ear cropping should not be banned because it is not cruel when done under anesthesia. Tail docking is not cruel when done under anesthesia, or when the puppy is a few days old. These decisions should therefore be left up to the owner, where it should be made. There is already enough laws on the books.

Originally Posted by Dog_Father

I personally would not crop or dock. However I would rather it be legal, as several places (atleast in the US) are statrting to ban it, and people are trying to do it themselves instead of going to a Vet. I know breeders often dock tails themselves, but they are experienced at it. I am talking about the people who figure they will try and save some money and do it themselves. This just happened in MA, where a man bought two pit puppies and simply cut the ears of one of the puppies with a pair of dull sissors and without pain meds. Now I would say most people are not that inhuman, but just in case...I would rather the option to get it done by a professional be available.

Well said.