Is Tail Docking Cruel?
August 27th 2008 21:00
Is there anyone out there who still believes in tail docking? I find the practice so wrong. It sounds like the canine equivalent of human plastic surgery. All the pain and suffering a dog has to go through all in the name of vanity. Just so a Rottweiler can look like it’s “supposed to” look like: tailless.
The following web page made me cringe:
RSPCA Tail Docking link
I felt so much pain for the animals, especially when the RPSCA said the procedure is carried out without any anaesthetic. Imagine if humans had to get their limbs amputated without any anaesthetic. The outcry would be huge and people would be saying we were going back to the Dark Ages.
On the other hand, you only need to look at circumcision on male babies to see that some people still have this idea that any surgical procedure that is performed without anaesthetic on a young human being or animal is “okay” as they’re supposed to be too young to remember. That maybe the case (how many men do you meet who can still remember being circumcised a few days after birth?) but it still doesn’t excuse the fact that at the time the procedure is carried out, enormous pain is experienced by the poor baby human/animal.
Of course, there will always be the traditionalists out there who say Rottweilers or Dobermans should have their tails docked to conform to their idea of what such breeds should look like. I have little time for people who espouse tradition. People who say a certain practise should be carried out because it’s “tradition” are presenting a nonsensical argument. As one wise doctor I know called Rodney would say, “There are lots of things that are traditional but that doesn’t mean they’re okay.” Child labour for one. Slavery for another. I’ll gladly add tail docking to the list.
What do you think? Do you prefer breeds such as Rottweilers and Dobermans to have their tails docked for the sake of tradition? Or do you agree with docking being banned?
The following web page made me cringe:
RSPCA Tail Docking link
I felt so much pain for the animals, especially when the RPSCA said the procedure is carried out without any anaesthetic. Imagine if humans had to get their limbs amputated without any anaesthetic. The outcry would be huge and people would be saying we were going back to the Dark Ages.
On the other hand, you only need to look at circumcision on male babies to see that some people still have this idea that any surgical procedure that is performed without anaesthetic on a young human being or animal is “okay” as they’re supposed to be too young to remember. That maybe the case (how many men do you meet who can still remember being circumcised a few days after birth?) but it still doesn’t excuse the fact that at the time the procedure is carried out, enormous pain is experienced by the poor baby human/animal.
Of course, there will always be the traditionalists out there who say Rottweilers or Dobermans should have their tails docked to conform to their idea of what such breeds should look like. I have little time for people who espouse tradition. People who say a certain practise should be carried out because it’s “tradition” are presenting a nonsensical argument. As one wise doctor I know called Rodney would say, “There are lots of things that are traditional but that doesn’t mean they’re okay.” Child labour for one. Slavery for another. I’ll gladly add tail docking to the list.
What do you think? Do you prefer breeds such as Rottweilers and Dobermans to have their tails docked for the sake of tradition? Or do you agree with docking being banned?
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