FYI- BC Pro ear cropping/tail docking petition

[spinster]

Ear cropping and tail docking should remain legal, and once again be returned to the curriculums of our Veterinarian colleges

Petition published by Association for the Preservation of Purebred Dogs on Nov 19, 2014
Read more at: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/...-colleges.html

[Sharon]

Hard to know what is best.
I don't support cropping or docking for cosmetic reasons ; the purebred conformation requirements should be changed when cropping /docking is required. jmo

BUT


There are good reasons for both too. Go to ground dogs suffer when left with a long tail - like a JRT/ RT/ Parson Russell Terrier. No easy answers, but I signed the petition for that reason.

[Roper]

I'll probably take some flack for this but I don't have a problem cropping for cosmetics. Especially if it meets a breed standard. We do it to humans - circumcision. A handsome looking doberman with cropped ears will quickly look like a dopey goof without cropped ears. Very often dog owners are being influenced by non dog owners. Same as the hunter vs anti-hunter debates.

[welsh]

Actually, opposition to docking & ear cropping comes almost entirely from dog owners -- people who don't buy into the show standard.

[MikePal]

Very often dog owners are being influenced by non dog owners. Same as the hunter vs anti-hunter debates.

Actually, opposition to docking & ear cropping comes almost entirely from dog owners -- people who don't buy into the show standard.

The information from the OP links suggests that the issue comes from the Veterinarians;

Once again The College of Veterinarians of British Columbia seeks to prohibit veterinarians from performing cosmetic cropping of ears for all dogs within B.C., supporting the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s (CVMA) position on the ear cropping of dogs.


In the past several years, veterinary regulators in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, PEI, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia have passed by-laws that prohibit their members from performing ear cropping; Newfoundland is the first to introduce legislation changes to ban both procedures and individuals can actually be charged under the animal cruelty act of Newfoundland. As a result certain breeds have started to disappear. (7)

In Canada, the CVMA has attempted to push their views about docking and cropping to the purebred dog community. Various Provincial Veterinary Associations have consistently pressured breed associations and kennel clubs to change breed standards and their stance on these elective surgeries, based on opinion and inconclusive research.

[welsh]

And that's completely unrelated to the ongoing tension between the show fancy and the anti-purebreed crowd, of course.

[MikePal]

The OP and the petition are talking about the 'legal' aspects...should the CVMA be allowed to restrict Vets from providing the 'cosmetics' services.....not the moral/ethical of cropping.

Have you have a link to suggest the 'anti-cropping' crowd is forcing the CVMA to adopt their stance on cosmetic surgeries?

[MikePal]

I case you missed it, this petition is being put forward by the organization called
“The Association for the Preservation of Purebred Dogs” (APPD).

Their mission statement is :

APPD aims to ensure that reasonable laws are designed to improve the well-being of purebred dogs while safeguarding pedigrees and securing their future. We maintain that education with scientifically sound and experience-based information is integral to supporting owners' choices as they work in consultation with their veterinarian. We also support the rights of veterinarians who choose to perform or pursue the advancement of these procedures. Veterinarians must be respected to act in the best interest of the animal and allowed to honour the choice of the owner.

Many times Veterinarians or Breeders have been chastised, when they should be highly regarded for the expertise in their field. APPD will continue to support the rights of the Breeders and Veterinarians that wish to continue to offer these elective services in turn building an empowerment with our Politicians and Legislative assembly, while instilling the importance on why our Purebred Dogs are a valuable part of our Canadian Heritage.

http://www.appd.ca/about-us.html

[spinster]

What I could find related to BC is this: http://www.cvbc.ca/cfm/index.cfm?It=100&Id=388 which is a draft position, which addresses ear cropping and not tail docking.
Interestingly this is the position of the veterinary college of Ontario (at present) http://www.cvo.org/CVO/media/College...ticSurgery.pdf which will come up for review by June 2015
So it is just a matter of time before we'll face this issue here.
If you do a google search, there are websites devoted to the banning of tail docking/ear cropping here in Canada. So to shock collars.

[MikePal]

So it is just a matter of time before we'll face this issue here.

That's very true, when you look at Appendix 2 of your linked document (CVO) it's inevitable that some form of restrictions will be adopted here in Ont.

As a farmer/dog owner (even purebreeds) I tend to agree with the CVO proposal as it's being put forward.

Purpose

This document is intended to serve as a guideline for use by veterinarians
when deciding whether or not to proceed with medically unnecessary
(or “cosmetic”) veterinary surgery (hereafter referred to as MUVS).

It does not prohibit any surgical procedure, but sets out principles to
Assist individual veterinarians with their decision - making.

Scope
document applies to all licensed veterinarians in Ontario who perform surgical procedures on animals, including (but not limited to) companion animals, horses, and those used for food and/or fibre.

The Guideline allows for every decision about MUVS to be made by the individual veterinarian based on his/her reasonable professional judgment.