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Tail Docking/Ear Crop For What can I do? Veterinary policies • Let the breeder know from CANADIAN VETERINARY MEDICAL the start that you do not ASSOCIATION want your pup altered. Do “The CVMA opposes surgical alteration of any this before the pup is born animal for purely cosmetic purposes... The CVMA because tail docking is recommends that breed associations change their Tail Docking done within a few days of standards so that cosmetic procedures are not birth. required.” Position Statement 3. • Do not buy from breeders www.cvma-acmv.org/welfare.asp Photo: Camera Art who insist that their dogs and have cropped ears or BRITISH COLUMBIA VETERINARY MEDICAL docked tails. ASSOCIATION • Lobby North American The BC Veterinary Medical Association signed the breed clubs to change WSAVA Convention (below) in July 2001. Ear Cropping their standards. Visit the British Kennel Club WORLD SMALL ANIMAL VETERINARY website at www.the-kennel-club.org.uk to ASSOCIATION compare standards. “Surgical operations for the purpose of modifying • Ask your MLA and your MP to push for the appearance of a companion animal for legislation against unnecessary surgery on non-therapeutic purposes should be actively dogs. discouraged. Where possible, legislation should • Write to your provincial veterinary association be enacted to prohibit the performance of and ask them to sign the Convention of the non-therapeutic surgical procedures for purely World Small Animal Veterinary Association cosmetic purposes.” (see back panel). www.wsava.org/Conventi.htm Laws about ear cropping and tail docking CANADA • Newfoundland & Labrador Ear cropping is illegal under the Animal Protection Act of 1978. OTHER COUNTRIES • Ear cropping is illegal in Australia, New Zealand and many European countries. Tail docking is illegal in Norway, Sweden, Cyprus, Greece, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Finland, Germany and parts of Australia. The Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre exists to provide tangible benefits to animals, through research, service Cover Photo: Viva “Tavernier Vive La Difference” and education. For further information, Sophie “Ch. Tavernier’s Black Widow” please visit our website at: Tavernier Great Danes Photo of Schnauzers courtesy of Leighann Hartnett www.upei.ca/awc Animal Welfare Series: Brochure # 4 What is ear cropping? Why are these procedures done? Ear cropping is a surgery that is performed on Ear cropping and tail docking are done to change puppies when they are 9 to 12 weeks old. The a dog’s appearance. They are not required for pups are anesthetised and part of the ear flap is health reasons. removed. After surgery, splints and tape hold the ears upright. The veterinarian has to change the People began doing the procedures hundreds of bandages regularly until the ears are healed and years ago when there were few veterinarians. erect. This may take up to 20 weeks and some Tail docking was thought to prevent rabies, ears fail to stand. strengthen the back and improve speed and agility. Ear cropping and tail docking were done in Why is ear cropping an issue? some working breeds to prevent injury while they worked. However, many other working breeds did Ear cropping can cause pain and infection, and there not have cropped ears or docked tails — for are risks with general anesthesia. Ear cropping can example, retrievers and setters. also affect behaviour because it is done when Lucy - Doberman puppies are learning about their environment and Ear cropping and tail docking are still done today are developing social behaviour. The pain of ear because they are traditional for the breed. cropping may make puppies afraid of handling In North America, the following breeds typically However, many countries have banned the and new situations. These experiences can affect have docked tails. It is unusual to see dogs of procedures and breed clubs have accepted this. the pups’ behavour when they become adults. these breeds with natural tails. In those countries, people are used to seeing all breeds with natural ears and tails. What is tail docking? • Boxer Tail docking is a surgery that is performed on • Doberman Pinscher puppies when they are 3 to 5 days old: part of the • Miniature Pinscher tail is cut off. Usually there is no anesthetic, but • Poodle (all sizes) local anesthetic may be used. Some breeders put • Rottweiler an elastic band around the tail instead. This cuts off • Schnauzer (all sizes) the circulation and, after a while, the tail drops off. • Schipperke • Most herding breeds Why is tail docking an issue? • Most hunting breeds Tail docking can cause infection and chronic pain. • Most spaniels The pain occurs because extra nerve cells grow in the stump of the tail. You can check the American Kennel Club website (www.akc.org) to see if the erect ears or short tail Which breeds are involved? of a particular breed are natural or not. In North America, dogs of the following breeds may have cropped ears. However, it is quite easy to find dogs of these breeds with natural ears. • Boston Terrier (ears cropped at 6 months) • Boxer • Doberman Pinscher •Great Dane • Schnauzer (all sizes) Ceilidh - Rottweiler This brochure was the initiative of vet student Keri Evers, and was funded through the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre Student Project Fund..
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