This week, SB 139 was introduced in the Illinois legislature. This bill is attempting to amend Illinois's current Humane Care for Animals Act by defining ear cropping and tail docking as animal tortue unless performed by a licensed veterinarian for medical purposes.
To many people, that sounds like they are doing the right thing...
Sadly, the wording of this amendment is all wrong. Whether you agree or disagree with the practice of cropping the ears of Dobermans, Schnauzers, Boxers, etc, if the procedure is going to be done it should be done by a licensed veterinarian. But, by stating that the procedures can only be done for medical purposes is the sticky point...ear crops and tail docks serve no medical purpose.
See how powerful just a couple of words can be....
If I had one of the breeds that allows for cropped ears, I don't know whether or not I would put a puppy through that surgery. BUT, if I did, I sure as hell would want a veterinarian doing the surgery and not the ham-fisted breeder or some young kid with a pair of pinking shears! Are you shocked? Are you saying to yourself, "that never happens"?
You, my friend, need to spend a summer in a big city animal emergency room and I will guarantee you that you will see several puppies that come into the hospital with ears that have been mangled by idiot who thinks he can wield a scalpel blade. More likely, the idiot probably just tried to use a meat cleaver! Stopping the professionals from doing these surgeries only increases the chances that emergency rooms will see more dogs with messed up ears.
Or, how about the rubber band around the tail trick?? Ever seen that? Believe me, it is not a pretty sight!
If ear cropping and tail docking are truly evil, then let's work from within the purebred dog establishment to change standards and help judges pick "best of breed" winners who have floppy ears rather than trimmed ears. No legislation prohibiting veterinarians from doing a job will stop people from wanting Boxers that look "mean". We need to make the change at the level of breeders, breed clubs, and show people. Then, when the majority of pet owners are content with floppy ears and long tails, then we can make it illegal to perform these surgeries.
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Unfortunately as most countries have found, in order to prevent these "cosmetic" mutilations being performed, one needs to have GOOD legislation in place - the KCs are unlikely to cooperate. Importantly, the legislation ALSO has to incorporate a prohibition on showing cropped and docked dogs at dog shows. As the breed standards emanate from breeders of show dogs this would mean that the AKC/FCI would be required to change standards for the appropriate breeds. All States would need to activate identical legislation to make it more easily enforceable countrywide.
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