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"Alcibiades had a very handsome dog, that cost him seven thousand
drachmas; and he cut off his tail, 'that,' said he, 'the Athenians may
have this story to tell of me, and may concern themselves no further with
me.' "
Plutarch (A.D.
46?–A.D. c. 120)
Apophthegms of Kings and Great Commanders
LONDON (UK) — Not
to be dissuaded by the heated controversy over anti-fox
hunt legislation in the UK, the British government has confirmed
that it is considering animal welfare legislation that will outlaw the
traditional countyside practice of tail docking.
Tail docking is the process of removing a
dog's tail by either "banding" (placing a ligature around a
puppy's tail to cut off the blood supply, thereby causing the tail to drop
off after three days) or by surgical amputation.
While some advocates of tail docking
argue that the the practice is necessary for health reasons and to avoid
tail damage, the Royal
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) says that
the practice is cruel and amounts to little more than mutilation in the
name of cosmetics.
Elliot Morley, the Environment Minister,
has disclosed in a parliamentary written answer that the Government is
contemplating the proposed anti-docking bill which first appeared in
January. Officials say that, if passed, laws could be on the statute
books by the end of next year.
Docking is already outlawed in 13 European
countries, and similarly, canine ear-cropping is often prohibited in
Europe. The
Kennel Club UK frowns upon ear-cropping, stating: "No dog
with cropped ears ... shall be eligible to take part in any Kennel Club
licensed activity."
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In the United States, both tail docking and
ear-cropping are allowed, which puts the U.S. "way behind the
times", says Chris Laurence, the RSPCA's chief veterinarian.
 Here
is one Boxer who is extremely opposed to ear-cropping. McGuinness is
an 8-month-old pup looking for a home through Boxer
Rescue (UK). Click his picture for more info, or visit Boxer
Links to see who else is available.
According to an article in The
Times, the tradition of tail docking is generally believed to
have originated in a desire to help working dogs avoid injuries when
working in rough countryside and tangled undergrowth, hundreds of years
ago.
Breeds that customarily have their tails amputated at birth include: Bulldogs,
Boxers, Rottweilers, Dobermans and Jack Russell Terriers.
Dogs who have nothing to worry about and will not be affected by the
passage/defeat of the proposed bill include: Entlebuch Swiss Mountain Dogs
and Russo-European Laika (born without a tail) and Scoop Senior Editor
"Wags" ...the
name "Stumps" just doesn't fit, and besides, he's grumpy enough
as it is.
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