Ann, I'm not sure anywhere else, but in Canada it isn't illegal for the most part anyway. The vets I used to work at docked tails, and they do it when they are pups. The pups are awake (atleast here they are) when they do this, and (i wasn;t in the room, I couldn't bare that) but you could hear them yowling. I asked the vet why people do this to their dogs, and they said breeds such as rotties and such are indeed born with tails and get docked. I figured that there was something wrong with the tails and they needed them cut off for a reason, but no, its for show only. People see the rotties (or w.e) to have a standard to look like, and such. I shouldn't be so down on it for not knowing much about it, but from my experiances with it, I hate it, and if I ever bred a dog like that there would be NO way I'd dock the tail or ears.