tail docking / ear cropping. why are these forms of mutilation accepted?  

I can't understand why they allow it in this day and age either. If you don't like the way a dog looks then don't get him. It is beyond me why they allow us to cut off a dogs tail but if a baby had an arm too long there is no way they would allow it to be just hacked off. I wish people would love and animal enough to let it be itself.

That's nothing compared to a woman I know who has hoarder personality and is always getting in trouble with her landlord and constantly threatened with eviction--she has both cats and dogs....to not attract attention to herself in her apartment building, she has her dogs operated on to remove the voice box in the dogs so they don't bark...and this is considered a legal operation and not animal cruelty--you figure this one out

The answers are that humans are greedy and non caring of animals basically. We are the meanest animal alive, and it is appauling that they continue to do this, especially in the USA.

OH I have no idea!
I think it should be outlawed everywhere
It is cruel!!
Someone asked me if I was going to crop my pit bull and i quickly offered to crop THEM!
I am not going to mutilate my dog!

Hello Galena!

I have often wondered about this practice as well. I did not realize that the practice was defended on some breeds due to 'working dogs' as you have brought up. I wondered where the whole thing began.

I was talking with another myNut the other day and learned that this practice is also illegal in Australia. Sadly enough, it is legal in the USA.

Even though a stumpy tail is sad, I still enjoy a wag from it.

I have never understood the appeal of this practice. I am really impressed that other countries have outlawed it. That is hopeful.

Its all a matter of preferences. I prefer the look of a cropped/docked dog over a natural one if its appropriate for the breed.

The surgeries performed are not causing suffering. If a surgery promotes suffering, then shouldn't spay and neuters be equally as inhumane? The ears are done under anesthesia and the tails are done before the dog's nervous system has fully developed at a day or two old. I have seen tails being docked in person. They are not a traumatic experience for the dog.

I don't think any of these procedures are inhumane if they are done properly and cared from properly afterward. Animals are amazingly adaptable so even if they spend a few days recovering from the surgery, they'll be right as rain later and not dwelling on their missing ears/tails/voicebox. Humans seem to be the only species that are psychologically attached to their body parts.

I believe there is a push to try and get the AKC to change there standards on this in america right now. The humane society is pushing for it by trying to get members to get proactive on it here in the states.

I agree that is is cruel and unnecessary, all in the name of fashion. A working dog can damage any part of his anatomy. My brother-in-law has a border collie to help with his sheep, and the dog has his full tail and everything else.

Before the ban over here, my nephew rescued a bull terrior who had had his ears clipped for fighting. The dog was considered to be not aggressive enough and was going to be put down. It's tail had gone too and it was a sad creature on first site, but with the love of the family, the dog became happy again and was wonderful with the kids too. I don't know how true the saying is that there are no bad dogs, only owners is, but this little chap proved it to be true.

i never understood the practice myself. although, when we got our dog (tiger), we had a few occasions where we joked that pits must have their tails docked to prevent household damage. he's part pit bull, and his tail can clear off a table. and i don't mean just the little stuff like remote controls or cups. he's knocked a closed LAPTOP off the table with his tail, and it was just a gentle wag. his excited wag can leave bruises!

not that i would ever dock his tail. i hate the way a dog looks with just a stump of a tail. i love seeing him wag his tail when we get home from the store.