Animal torture is illegal in Illinois (includes both ear cropping & tail docking) but has an exception for altering an animal done under the direction of a licensed vet. Ohio: OH prohibits the devocalization of dogs which have been deemed dangerous. #accordion_pro_15601 .collapsing { The term head-splitting is used to refer to the changes that happen to the size of the dogs head. Here are a few examples of those states' laws: Even if your state is not among those that have specifically regulated cropping, it is highly recommended to take your dog to a vet for the procedure. The battle crop is the smallest of the ear crop style. 2017, Dr. Patty Khuly. All rights reserved. Connecticut, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York and Pennsylvania: These states explicitly prohibit ear cropping except when performed under anesthesia by a licensed veterinarian. This can cause pain and make your dog snappy if their tail is touched. In England and Wales, ear cropping is illegal, and no dog with cropped ears can take part in any Kennel Club event (including agility and other non-conformation events). Vets say both procedures -- especially ear cropping -- are becoming less common. Fifteen of the 225 dogs showing in the 2014 Westminster Kennel Club dog show agility contest are mixed-breed (also called all-American). The dogs ears will be sensitive and painful for weeks after surgery. The ear muscles of dogs are structured in such a manner that when the ear moves in the direction of the sound, the outer ear catches sound waves and funnels them into the eardrum. } It also demands that the ear cropping be "appropriate for the animal," stopping just shy of the words, "medical necessity." The AVMA has also documented the cosmetic surgery laws currently adhered to in the United States . Ear cropping is a cosmetic procedure whereby the ear flaps are vertically incised to allow them to stand upright. For those not familiar with these terms, ear cropping consists of cutting off up to about two/thirds of the dog's ears when the puppy is between the age of 9 to 12 weeks old. The short crop is the most preferred crop style among American Bullies. padding-top: 0px !important; Nowadays, even though American Bullies are treated as house pets, and they are one of the friendliest dogs you can have around you and your family, people still want them to maintain the intimidating aesthetic by cropping their ears. (it will mean a lot to us ), If youre an American Bully owner, you probably know they can change from being adorable little furry creatures to becoming big adults who are a mess in an instant. } She has a Bachelor of Science (with honors) in sociology from the London School of Economics and Political Science. padding: 15px 15px 15px 50px !important; But not just because they hedge, waffle and prevaricate. Elective surgery for dogs: It may sound odd, but it's exactly what some purebreds undergo shortly after birth. The American Kennel Club (AKC), on the other hand, states that ear cropping, tail docking, and dewclaw removal are all acceptable procedures to define and preserve 'breed character' or for enhancing good health. Well discuss why people do it, how its done, the after-effects of ear cropping, and all the pros and cons you need to know to have an informed opinion. As many fanciers are now aware, officials in West Hollywood, California recently proposed a city ordinance that would ban ear cropping, tail docking and other non-therapeutic measures. background:#1e73be !important; (Here's a past, Illinois: This state prohibits animal torture but makes an exception for alteration of an animal as long as its done under the, Declawing a cat requires that the first knuckle of each digit be amputated so as to remove the entirety of the claw. Then why crop the ears? font-weight:500 !important; The average cost of ear cropping should be around $150 to $600. color:#000000 !important; Before getting into the aesthetic look of the ear croppings, listed below are the breeds that are most likely to fall victim to ear croppings: There are four main crop styles, and most breeders will make their pets get one of them. Pitbullshome also participates in affiliate programs with other sites. Despite the hotly contested nature of these procedures with respect to animal welfare, the shocking truth is that these procedures are almost entirely unregulated. display: block !important; The most common reason for cropping and docking is to give a dog a certain look. It has also been signed by Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Portugal, although with reservations often relating to medical exceptions. color:#ffffff !important; box-shadow: none !important; This does not currently include the UK, but the matter is covered in domestic animal welfare legislation. Any dog with cropped ears has gone through pain and distress, as well as a possibly unpleasant recuperation process. At FindLaw.com, we pride ourselves on being the number one source of free legal information and resources on the web. Why? Unfortunately, we cannot answer this question for you. There have been reports of an increase in ear cropping over the last year. The real question Id like to pose here is whether you, as a pet parent, would allow your dog to undergo such procedures simply to look better, even if the procedure does nothing to improve the dogs overall health and serves only the beauty purpose? All rights reserved. Siniscalchi, M. Current Biology, October 2013. Following the procedure, Otis was scared of both his parents and strangers. . The ears of a dog also communicate the dogs feelings and mood, therefore mutilating such an essential part of the body can cause challenges for the pet parent in interpreting the dogs emotion. font-size:16px !important; reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Your vet will tell you when to remove the bandages, typically two to three days after surgery. Cropping has only been controlled in eight states, according to the AVMA. border-radius: 0px !important; A TimelineContinue, American Bullies are such a kind and loyal breed. They stand up straight and give the American Bully an intimidating, menacing look. This practice of dog ear cropping is a painful procedure in which the dogs ear is surgically removed to make the dog appear more aggressive or for aesthetic purposes. The majority of celebrities will purchase pets from breeders who are illegally cropping the dogs ears and tails. When I bring surgery up with [potential pet owners], many dont even realize its a choice, Roark says. If youre a veterinarian and you use anesthesia, you can perform a tail dock, but only after twelve weeks. Dog owners and breeders in B.C. Global debate on ear cropping is heated and divided. RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal says: "Dogs should never be mutilated for cosmetic purposes . Such a traumatic experience sticks with him for the rest of his life. The Show crop, also known as the medium crop, is the most common ear cropping style among breeders and pet owners because it gives a more alert look to the dog. margin-top:0px !important; Baby boy Enzo getting distracted with #cetchews at #sunsetanimalclinic during his #fearfree visit. In the U.S., these procedures are unregulated -- meaning they are not banned or controlled. Or avoid the question altogether by getting an older dog. Maine bans mutilating an animal by irreversibly damaging body parts (includes ear cropping & tail docking) but makes an exception if performed by a licensed vet. (Never thought of myself as having a license to mutilate.). Not that Im holding my breath or nothin' . Currently, eight cities in California have a declawing ban: Berkeley, Beverly . The procedure takes from 30 to 45 minutes, and then you are given instructions on how to care for your American Bully post-surgery.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'pitbullshome_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_18',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-pitbullshome_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0'); After the procedure, your Bully will be prescribed some pain relief medicine and maybe some supplements to help with the healing process. According to the British Veterinary Association, dogs that have had their ears cropped can wind up suffering from severe ear infections that lead to permanent damage. Maryland and Pennsylvania are the only states that have provisions restricting the tail docking of dogs. Ear cropping and tail docking are common today, but are these practices necessary or merely cosmetic? In 2009 Banfield Veterinary Group, the largest privately held veterinary practice in the US, banned cosmetic ear cropping from its procedures. Cropping, also known as clipping dogs ears, removes all or part of the external ear flap on a dog. This was due to the ear being a sensitive, susceptible, and easy target for the opposing animal to bite, grip, and tear. font-size: 18px !important; Vets typically perform tail docking when a dog is just a few days old. In the United States, no state has officially prohibited ear cropping. It does not prevent ear infections or improve a dogs balance. While its illegal in most of the Western world, its only regulated in nine US states. } #accordion_pro_15601 .wpsm_panel-heading{ Their ears will be bandaged to prevent infection from the open wound. color: #000000 !important; Furthermore, ear cropping is only done on pups; it is never done on adults. In 2007, the UK Kennel Club banned dogs with cropped ears from participating in dog shows. Ear Cropping: Animal Cruelty or Beauty Standard, The Painful Truth Behind Ear Cropping Procedure. #accordion_pro_15601 .wpsm_panel { The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety advice or professional care. Its time to compare the two opposing opinions. Make sure to assess the pros and cons and come to the best decision for you and your dog. Ear cropping is a painful procedure that benefits the dog in no way. Most commonly performed on puppies aged between four and six months, it involves removing two thirds of the ear under anesthetic. Emily Patterson-Kane, PhD, animal welfare scientist, American Veterinary Medical Association. Pennsylvania: PA prohibits any docking of a dogs tail after five days of age. Dockings usually performed by a veterinarian or breeder without anesthesia, the rationale being that although it certainly causes pain, the puppy isnt fully alert yet and wont remember it, says Emily Patterson-Kane, PhD, an animal welfare scientist at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Only California has made any serious inroads. This site DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE and all the information provided here is meant for informational purposes only. However, the practice is still legal in other parts of the world, such as the USA and Russia. In fact, heres the thing: While there are no solid stats on this, its a safe bet that most ear crops, dewclaw removals and tail docks undertaken in this country are not performed by veterinarians. Make sure you dont get soap or hydrogen peroxide on the stitches. However, this breed has a reputation for being aggressive which caused them to be restricted in some places. width: 18px !important; Rules there say tattooing is only allowable for ID purposes and piercing isnt OK unless were talking ear-tag IDs for pet species who have normally been identified this way (rabbits and guinea pigs). They are short and erect. The opposing sides reasons are simple and clear; its cruel and unnecessary. You must clean the area regularly to avoid infection. American Bully ear cropping is a surgical procedure, and therefore it needs a lot of care before, during, and after the process. The main reason American Bullies got their ears cropped in the past was to give them an advantage during fighting and hunting. Many countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia, ban this practice (as well as tail docking) because its thought to be purely cosmetic; thus, its considered animal cruelty to perform unnecessary surgery on an animal. This practice has persisted to the present day, with most ear cropping performed on specific dog breeds for cosmetic reasons rather than bullfighting or defense against wolves. Docked tails can also develop a neuroma, or nerve tumor. color: #000000 !important; } Tail docking is the removal of part of a dogs tail. American Bully ear cropping is one of the most controversial topics among American Bully and Pit Bull owners. padding: 0 !important; After-care of the procedure is long and needs a lot of commitment and work. Aside from the infection, there are other potential complications, such as the desired cropped ear not being in the right position and the ear being distorted, which can lead to more ear cropping. The best age to crop your Bullys ear is between 6 and 12 months old. This sci-fi thriller for mature readers imagines a not-so-distant futurea world of . In which countries is ear cropping prohibited? Some claims suggest that it can minimize ear infections and improve hearing. } overflow:hidden; The most upsetting impact of ear-cropping of dogs for the sake of appearing better is the unneeded mutilation of a vital part of the body. If you do not have a medical reason to crop your Bullys ears, many people will deem the procedure cruel and inhumane even. The healing process of the cropped ears takes several stages until it reaches the fully healed step. That means it poses unnecessary risks, Patterson-Kane says. background:#ffffff !important; Petrov, V. Revue de Medecine Veterinaire, January 2013. Notably, ear cropping is illegal in some parts of Canada, and all of Australia, New Zealand, and in Scandinavian countries, according to the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. It serves no other function than to help a dog adhere to a certain breed standard. Owned and operated by CharityUSA.com, LLC. In countries like the United States, ear cropping has been on the decline, . Whats more, its also a safe bet that the animals who undergo these procedures are not being treated according to the high veterinary standards of care you might envision in your minds eye when you buy that pet shop Min-Pin. Well , In fact, heres the thing: While there are no solid stats on this, its a safe bet that most ear crops, dewclaw removals and tail docks undertaken in this country are. Make sure your American Bully gets a healthy diet during the time after the procedure to help their body heal faster. To crop or not to crop. And ear cropping became an essential part of preparing an American Bully to be a hunter. When a dogs ear is cropped, a variety of problems can arise, ranging from communication to infection, all of which can lead to an ear cropping gone wrong. The Canadian Kennel Club authorises the exhibition of uncropped dogs in shows, but according to the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS), ear cropping remains largely in practice. It is legal in the United States, although several states have repeatedly tried to outlaw ear cropping (and tail docking). Doberman with uncropped ears So while it may be legal to crop your dog's ears anywhere in the United States, you may need to follow a specific procedure. Most European countries have outlawed ear cropping. There are two ways to dock a tail. 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