Ear cropping and tail docking: Who will do it if it was outlawed?

Question

IMO, Ear cropping or tail docking is kind of like the Abortion issue. It's a personal decision that carries risks and which I'd rather see a doctor do instead of a backyard butcher I have an APBT and her ears are not cropped. I love her ears just the way they came naturally, but at the same time, I still can't view a Boxer or a Doberman as a victim of mutilation because their ears are cropped, any more than I can view a poodle as being treated cruelly for having it's tail docked in the first few days of life by a qualified person. If this were made illegal, do you think it would encourage back yard butchers? I shudder to think of the resulting botched jobs and true cruelty that would occur if it was outlawed in America. So I am NOT for it personally, but FOR it being done by a professional vs. backyard butcher.

Answer 1

I hope it is never banned completely because I wouldn't be afraid to bet $$$ on it that it would still be done by others who are not professionals.
That is a scary thought!!
I have had many dogs docked & cropped & I can tell you the pain is not as bad as people seem to believe.All that I had done were done by highly experienced vets & never were they sent home on pain medication.

Answer 2

You do make a good point. But I think the only people who would do it themselves, if it was outlawed, are the same people who do it themselves now. I live near a very bad area, and some people do it themselves already. They cut the dog's ears off with scissors, and they 'dock' their tails by leaving a right rubber band around the base, and wait for it to fall off. The people who do this are usually dog fighters or scum who can't afford to take their dog to the vet, but they think it makes a dog look "tougher" if they have their ears cropped or tails docked. I don't think outlawing tail docking or ear cropping will add to the amount of people who do it themselves. Most people who get their dog's ears cropped or tail docked do it because they don't see it as animal cruelty when a veterinarian does it, and they would never think of doing it themselves.

*I would never personally have my dog's ears cropped or tails docked, and I don't know if I am for or against it if other make that decision to have it done by a professional.

Answer 3

I agree if it was ever outlawed, some people would do it themselves. What about the dangers of some idiot docking a tail on a 6 month old puppy ? I think we are better off allowing docking/cropping in the US, at least most of this surgeries are being done by a licensed vet. This is a personal desicion & it should stay that way.

Answer 4

I agree with you.
I have a fostered (rescued) APBT and I have a rescued pit/lab. The sole purpose for the closely cropped ears with APBT was so that they weren't ripped off during a fight. Many other breeds crops and docks are purely cosmetic.
I personally love the wildly floppy and unpredictable ears of my foster pup, Butterfly and I really do frown on those who dock/crop for no reason. I believe to have a show quality dog one must abide by AKC standards as to who gets what docked or cropped, but if you have a family pet, then it really shouldn't matter.
With that said, there are still thousands of APBTs getting their ears cut off in dirty backyards by horrible people with office scissors. Even if the practice of docking/cropping became illegal in the states, there would still be dogs suffering in the hands of man.
In fact I have to agree with you, more dogs would suffer if the practice did become illegal.
Oh I wish people could love their best friends for who they are, not what they look like.

Answer 5

You would have the people who breed to try to make fast money turning to crazy do it yourself methods I am sure....really it's been done for so many years in a safe environment at the vet under anesthetic why the big debate now? I do see some rottie breeders are leaving tails undone and in my honest opinion I prefer them with them docked, it just suits their blocky body, yes it's a cosmetic thing but so is piercing your ears and other parts...I never did like the ear cropping but that's just me...tail docking is done in a vets office before the bone grows in and at my vet they do numb the area beforehand and it's a very quick and bloodless process..literally there is a couple spots of blood, a few stitches and puppy is happy and quiet back with mom. I used to work at the vet so I have seen it done firsthand. It's no different than cirucmsising a little boy...it's not medically needed and no it's not cleaner it's basically parents who prefer a cut boy..but those same parents may think tail and ear docking is cruel?! Just my two cents.

Answer 6

pits i guess made for the fighting ring get thiers done now by butchers.... I not for it either...better done by a vet definatly. i like the natural look i guess.
while it is a bit cruel....even when a vet does it...i to shudder at the thought of some idiot doing it and WOW what damage they could do by doing a tail!....and in the US i can see it happening....

Answer 7

I think it is cruel to do that, but not cruel enough to outlaw. I agree, people will do much worse (IE hidden drug-trade) if it is outlawed.