Sign the petition and ask the American Kennel Club to remove ear cropping from its breed standards! 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. Global debate on ear cropping is heated and divided. }
Please consult your health care provider, attorney, or product manual for professional advice. Or avoid the question altogether by getting an older dog. font-size: 18px !important;
There's a fear that more and more dogs are being sent abroad for cropping, or being purchased and imported from overseas having already had the painful procedure. Apparently, this law helps ensure that dangerous dogs are not misunderstood. (Its pricey to be educated, use drugs and keep things clean.). In 2009 Banfield Veterinary Group, the largest privately held veterinary practice in the US, banned cosmetic ear cropping from its procedures. While some people use ear cropping and tail docking to make their dogs appear stronger and to portray a more aggressive appearance, that really isnt necessary. Their ears will be bandaged to prevent infection from the open wound. Historically, pet owners began practicing ear cropping on working dogs in order to reduce ear infections since these working dogs were also prone to rat attacks. background:#ffffff !important;
Another reason why ear cropping is said to have been done largely is to improve the look of the dog and to keep them more lively. The ear cropping benefits are little to none, while the consequences of cropping the ear and tail have long-term impacts. Ear cropping and tail docking in dogs is an inhumane procedure that serves no purpose other than changing the appearance of a dog. The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association both oppose ear cropping as it puts dogs at great risk. background:#1e73be !important;
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Ear cropping is illegal in many countries around the world. }
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(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. (CVBC) has voted to ban the cosmetic procedure of ear cropping this week and thus join several other provinces in trying to end the practice they say causes . This restriction involves completely banning the breed or, Read More Is the American Bully a Restricted Breed? In order for you to form your own opinion on the matter, you need to understand all the facts and myths about ear cropping. Only California has made any serious inroads. Ear cropping is a painful treatment. color:#000000 !important;
Laws on Docking, Cropping and Declawing and Why They Suck. For pet owners who do not plan to use their American Bully for fighting, hunting, or parading them around in dog shows, avoiding ear infections is their reason for cropping. In the United Kingdom, they consider floppy-eared Dobermans normal. But an increasing number of experts and animal organizations argue that just because something is the norm doesn't mean . Pitbullshome also participates in affiliate programs with other sites. In total, 14 dogs were seized from two separate properties related to a single investigation, said the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in a statement Tuesday, Feb. 21 . 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. Countries like Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, England, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, and Turkey have already made ear cropping illegal. DVM 360: AVMA Gets Mixed Reaction to Ear Crop Policy, World Small Animal Veterinary Association: AAHA Animal Welfare Position Statements. 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. Unlike many other countries, the U.S. government has not passed any law regulating the practice of cropping a dog's ears. Elective surgery for dogs: It may sound odd, but it's exactly what some purebreds undergo shortly after birth. Ear cropping is illegal in England and Wales, under Section 5 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the RSPCA reports. Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington State impose certain restrictions, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Nearly all European countries have laws against ear cropping. font-weight:500 !important;
Petrov, V. Revue de Medecine Veterinaire, January 2013. All Rights Reserved. margin-bottom:10px !important;
Dogs of war have been predominantly shifted to the shepherd family, including malinois, GSDs, and Dutch shepherds whose ears generally stand naturally. [18] The American Kennel Club(AKC) and Canadian Kennel Clubboth permit the practice. James Serpell, PhD, director of the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society at the University of Pennsylvania, argues that docking itself could be considered an injury. Such acts of cruelty can cause the dog unnecessary and unwelcome long-term chronic agony, therefore it should be prohibited. (Here's a past, All states but Maryland will allow you to cut off your own dogs tail for, When Washington state says that it prohibits ear cropping except when its considered a customary husbandry practice, it opens the door not only for, All but five states allow that pets de-barked by non-veterinary laypersons with no requirement for anesthesia or pain relief whatsoever. Difference Between Male & Female of the Common What Are the Causes of Dark Spots on Greyhounds? But, unless you are competing in a dog show or other event that requires these appearance standards, this isnt necessary. It gives your dog this strong look without exposing its ear canals. Regularly check for signs of infections and make sure you have regularly scheduled vet visits to ensure your American Bully is always healthy. This means that all ear cropping is illegal unless a vet recommends it for medical reasons; no UK vet can perform ear cropping for cosmetic reasons.
After two or three weeks, stitches will be removed, and the cropped ear will be bandaged upright to a hard surface, so it continues its healing in an upright position. Within the U.S., only 9 states have any regulations regarding ear cropping. The American Kennel Club (AKC) says the practices are integral to defining and preserving breed character in certain breeds. Over the last year, there have been reports of a huge increase in the ear cropping of dogs. #accordion_pro_15601 .wpsm_panel-body p{
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The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) does not support claims that cropping ears serves to prevent medical issues in dogs, and the practice seems mostly to be for aesthetic purposes in certain pedigree breeds. Based in London, Ann Duncan has been writing online since October 2009. But only if youre a layperson. The practice of surgically cutting a puppys ears is now considered largely cosmetic and has been banned in most countries, The Spruce Pets reports. color: #000000 !important;
Too often, irresponsible breeders take this matter into their own hands and use razors or scissors to perform ear cropping.. Yay! If youre looking for a protective breed to help keep your home and family safe, consider one of the best guard dogs for families as your next pup. (Here's a past post on this and a link to AVMA's policy.). margin-top: 0 !important;
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I guess people think of them more as muscular gym jocks than athletic runners, but thats the wrong idea.
Thank you! In the United States, no state has officially prohibited ear cropping. While a handful of U.S. states do have rules about ear cropping, there are no states that have an outright ban. The eight states with controlled ear cropping laws include Pennsylvania, Washington, New York, Virginia, and Massachusetts Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Tail docking on the other hand, is the mutilation of a dog's . Ear cropping was made illegal in the UK under the Animal Welfare Act of 2006. They are less likely to get their ears bitten in a dog fight. Photo: Adobe Stock / DennisThe practice of surgically cutting a puppys ears is now considered largely cosmetic and has been banned in most countries. Ear cropping refers to the procedure of trimming an animals ear. 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. Its no longer unusual to see schnauzers without cropped ears and boxers with long tails, Roark says. They stand up straight and give the American Bully an intimidating, menacing look. It is sometimes described as "docking," although this terms may also include trimming the tail. 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. }
Its most commonly performed without anesthesia at three days of age for cometic reasons. Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help. }
Cropping, also known as clipping dogs ears, removes all or part of the external ear flap on a dog.
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Celebrities are mostly responsible for the dramatic spike in-ear cropping. Since their immune system is still weak, the puppy whose ear was just cropped is more susceptible to infection. When I bring surgery up with [potential pet owners], many dont even realize its a choice, Roark says. Contact us. }
If the puppy was put under anesthesia during the ear cropping procedure, it will recover in 2 or 3 days. The short crop is the most preferred crop style among American Bullies. #accordion_pro_15601 .wpsm_panel-body{
Connecticut, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York and Pennsylvania: These states explicitly prohibit ear cropping except when performed under anesthesia by a licensed veterinarian. You can learn more about the breed standards of bullies in this guide on American Bully types. If youre a veterinarian and you use anesthesia, you can perform a tail dock, but only after twelve weeks. Currently, eight cities in California have a declawing ban: Berkeley, Beverly . Most state laws either disregard these issues entirely or offer simple restrictions that hint at the unseen reality of how most of our pets unwanted bits are treated. There are currently nine states that specifically regulate ear cropping of dogs: Connecticut, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York and Pennsylvania all prohibit ear cropping except by a licensed veterinarian while the dog is under an anesthetic.
People say cropped ears improve the hearing capacity. There have been reports of an increase in ear cropping over the last year. Many people believe that dogs with big floppy ears are more likely to catch ear infections, so ear cropping is used as a preventative procedure to keep the dog healthy and avoid unwanted complications. The AVMA reports that there are only eight states where cropping has been regulated. American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Shop to Provide Toys for Children in Need, Shop to Support Wildlife & the Environment. padding: 15px 15px 15px 50px !important;
Ear cropping is currently banned in Scandinavian countries, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Canada.
Its important for responsible dog owners to know when these changes happen, Read More When Does An American Bullys Head Crack?Continue, Bullies are a significant lifetime investment. 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. padding-top: 0px !important;
Tail docking is the removal of part of a dogs tail. content: "\f068" !important;
Although it is prohibited in the United Kingdom and other European countries; ear cropping is still legal in North America, with the exception of a few states such as New York. Infection is always a risk with any medical procedure. Ears are stitched and bandaged for several weeks. It also demands that the ear cropping be "appropriate for the animal," stopping just shy of the words, "medical necessity." }
Ive worked with nearly 40 animal doctors during my career, and I know maybe two who perform crops, Roark says. It is still an acceptable practice in the United States, although there are now restrictions in some states. Terms of Use (Here's the AVMA's policy on this.). Ear cropping is a painful treatment. When pet owners enter the Pitbull world, they may not even be sure of what a Pitbull's ears look like normally, as it is a popular trend to crop the dog's ears. The barbaric act of ear cropping is primarily done to improve the appearance of a dog and some of the dog breeds most susceptible to ear croppings are Doberman Pinschers, Boxers, Boston Terriers, or Great Danes. If you see these signs, there may be an infection. Its also the only one that considers anesthesia a requirement. The American Veterinary Medical Association states that "ear-cropping and tail-docking are not medically indicated nor of benefit to the patient. Canine Journal is a trademark of Cover Story Media, Inc. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. In which countries is ear cropping prohibited? Massachusetts prohibits ear cropping except when executed by a licensed veterinarian, and Washington prohibits ear cropping except when it is considered a customary husbandry practice. #accordion_pro_15601 .wpsm_panel-title a{
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The best age to crop your Bullys ear is between 6 and 12 months old. The battle crop is the smallest of the ear crop style. Like the dog tail, the ear is an important part of a dogs communication system. Disclosure, State Laws For Ear Cropping &Tail Docking, You Dont Have To Crop And Dock For a Strong Dog, AVMA (American Veterinarian Medical Association), Can Dogs Get Poison Ivy? Why has ear cropping increased so dramatically? But not just because they hedge, waffle and prevaricate. Funds are paid byGreaterGood.org to benefiting organizations as a grant. In some cases, a dog may be in such great pain that they require a specialized procedure to remove the entire ear canal. Its illegal to crop a dogs ears in Connecticut, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, and Pennsylvania unless done by a licensed vet while the dog is under anesthetic. The space your dog is in should be kept clean, dry, and free of urine and feces. This means that Pitbullshome is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Please support this website by adding us to the whitelist in your ad blocker. Tail docking is banned in many parts of the world, including Australia and the U.K. }
This surgery can result in significant post-operative pain for the pet as well as psychological trauma for the doggo. overflow:hidden;
However, the practice is still legal in other parts of the world, such as the USA and Russia. The flat-headed dog is the most common victim of this ear cropping. }
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