Cosmetic surgery is (not) for the dogs
Published Saturday October 11th, 2008
Pets Organizer says ban is no big deal because pooches don't care about their looks
SUSSEX - For a week now pet owners haven't let up on the debate surrounding the New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association's decision to eliminate cosmetic surgery for dogs.
There are as many opinions being voiced on websites as there are breeds but in Sussex, home to the summertime Canadian agility nationals for the best canine athletes and their handlers in the country, a lead organizer for the event says looks just don't matter.
"The tail versus no tail will have no bearing as far as agility goes," said agility trainer and nationals organizer Allyson Mitton of Sussex. "It doesn't affect the performance and looks has nothing to do with our sport."
In agility, dogs of all breeds and size complete obstacle courses with precision and speed as the focus.
New Brunswick veterinarians announced last week they will no longer perform cosmetic surgery on dogs like docking tails, cropping ears to make them stand at point or removing dew claws.
"I'm definitely no expert in the field of docking or cropping, as I've always had dogs with tails and all of their ears, but I do feel so sad standards dictate that some breeds have to have pain inflicted upon them to look like they are expected to," Mitton said.
"Hopefully decisions like this will eventually turn the tide and the alterings will become not so acceptable."
The vets claims they want to save dogs the painful procedures that have more to do with making them look attractive than anything else.
But for as many people supporting the decision, there are others who say the procedures are for the benefit of the pet.
"Breeders did not start docking tails and removing dew claws because they though it looked nicer," one woman wrote in an online discussion on the issue. "A broken tail is extremely painful and slow to heal. There are some breeds with very thin tails that were so prone to breaking that breeders found it much kinder to dock them at birth when the puppy has very little awareness.
"Dew claws serve no purpose for the dog and are prone to ripping and growing right around into the pad. They do not even bleed when removed at birth. The puppies do not even cry," she added. "I personally think these procedures save the dog from a lot of pain and aggravation down the road."
While some dog breeders and kennel clubs have criticized the vets' decision because it will leave unqualified dog owners to make the alterations themselves, New Brunswick SPCA executive director Glen McGuire says committing cruelty to animals would be risky.
"People are arguing if it can't get done legally by a vet, people will hack away at their own dog," he said. If the SPCA hears of these situations, they will step in.
"I believe most of these things that are done to dogs and cats are cosmetic," McGuire said, adding just because it was expected that a sheepdog's tail would be bobbed in the 1700's, it's not necessary today. In early Georgian times in the United Kingdom, tax was levied upon working dogs with tails so many types of dogs were docked to avoid the tax. The tax was repealed in 1796 but that did not stop the practice from persisting, McGuire pointed out.
"A lot of these practices have come about, and the reasons for them are no longer applicable," he said. "Anything that causes an animal pain, done for cosmetic reasons, is not a good idea."
The dew claw, McGuire said, is usually removed to mainstream the look of the dog for shows.
"Once nobody is doing it, a new standard will be set," he said.
Vets will still perform the surgeries if there's a valid health reason.
More The City
Search Articles
More CE Network Sites & Partners:
