To crop or not to crop?

[Cataholic]

I wonder....if other countries (or, is it just the land down under?) are beginning to ban cropping of ears/tails....isn't there a reason for it? Americans are the last people on earth to change their habits...we are so ridiculously stuck with 'well, it is OUR right to do it...'. Ugh.

Cropping is as wrong as declawing.

[Suki Wingy]

in the UK cropped ears is an imediate DQ from the show ring or ever showing again, so it's not just Australia. Declawing, on the other hand, I'm against unless it is the last thing keeping a cat in his family. My grandma declawed Seamus when my aunt moved in because he was "playing too roughly" with her cats. Otherwise he would be off the the shelter.

[K9soul]

I wonder....if other countries (or, is it just the land down under?) are beginning to ban cropping of ears/tails....isn't there a reason for it?

According to one site that listed countries who have banned cropping and/or docking, here is a list of some: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa (From 2007, vets will not be permitted to dock), and Virgin Islands.

More are being added all the time. California is working to ban the practice in California. More on that here: http://www.thepetprofessor.com/press/press.aspx?id=1807

Here's another informative link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docking

"The tradition of docking dogs originates in the old Roman empire where worms in the tail of the dog were thought to cause rabies. This belief led to the tradition of cutting off the tail as a preventive measure."

[Cataholic]

K9Soul- thank you for such factual data!!! (or, is that a redundant phrase?)

There has got to be better treatment for pets....

[CagneyDog]

Here's another informative link: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docking[/url]

Wikipedia isn't a reputable site. Lots of information on there is completely false.

[K9soul]

Umm I read the article and found it to be objective and no false information, with plenty of facts you can find on many other websites about docking and cropping. I felt it summarized it nice and simply without going into rabid arguments for or against it. Maybe you could point out what in that article was incorrect or false information. If you feel it's the part about where docking originated as a means to prevent rabies, that is easily proved or disproved by looking around more. Here are some more sites that give that bit of info.

http://www.schnauzerclub.co.uk/docking.shtml

http://www.pethealth.com.au/index.cf...wysiwyg_id=159

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/pro.../LA20040406004

http://www.animallaw.info/articles/d...ingdocking.htm

to name just a few.

I never said "use wikipedia to research any questions." I said that particular article was informative on docking/cropping and why it was started, and what countries are banning it etc. I swear people just look for things to nitpick on here sometimes and it makes me hesitant to even post lately.

[CagneyDog]

Umm I read the article and found it to be objective and no false information, with plenty of facts you can find on many other websites about docking and cropping. I felt it summarized it nice and simply without going into rabid arguments for or against it. Maybe you could point out what in that article was incorrect or false information. If you feel it's the part about where docking originated as a means to prevent rabies, that is easily proved or disproved by looking around more. Here are some more sites that give that bit of info.

http://www.schnauzerclub.co.uk/docking.shtml

http://www.pethealth.com.au/index.cf...wysiwyg_id=159

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/pro.../LA20040406004

http://www.animallaw.info/articles/d...ingdocking.htm

to name just a few.

I never said "use wikipedia to research any questions." I said that particular article was informative on docking/cropping and why it was started, and what countries are banning it etc. I swear people just look for things to nitpick on here sometimes and it makes me hesitant to even post lately.

No need to get hasty. I didn't even read the info, I just wanted to warn people that it may not be correct. In no way, k9soul, was this some personal attack on you. No need to question posting on Pet talk because of this! You are a highly valued member!
All I know is that Wikepedia is banned from using in almost every school around here because of the incorrect info. Every bit of information I have seen from that site has been incorrect or twisted in some sort of way. Maybe this is different though!

I swear people just look for things to nitpick on here sometimes and it makes me hesitant to even post lately.

I also think that a big problem is that people blow friendly statements out of proportion!

[animal_rescue]

I adore the doberman breed and think they look gorgeous cropped and docked. I have seen dobie ears gone wrong and I hate the people that do it to them but I don't think it's bad when I vet that knows what their doing does it, especially for show reasons. I love Maggie with all of my heart and soul and if anyone thinks I'm a horrible pet owner because she was cropped and docked, well honestly I don't care. She's my baby.

edit: also to add that if a puppy is to old to be cropped and docked then I don't think it's right to do it, also I think their cute with out being cropped and/or docked.

[K9soul]

No need to get hasty. I didn't even read the info, I just wanted to warn people that it may not be correct.

You're right, I did overreact although some of my reaction had to do with other incidents that have happened and I PMed you regarding that. I should have just brushed it off, or responded more calmly .

I do still feel that unless you found something in the article that seemed questionable there was no need to warn people that it might be false. I do try to be careful and read through anything myself before using it as a reference. I used that article as a reference because I felt it was the most "informational" summary I could find at the time that was not a pro or anti cropping/docking site.

Hopefully we understand each other on this now and sorry for the rather strong outburst on my part .

[cyber-sibes]

I like both, it's really up to the owner/breeder IMO. I don't think I'd have the heart to put any dog I personally owned through it, though. I don't know about other breeds, but show dog huskies also have their dew claws removed, but I'll bet it isn't as painful as cropping/docking.