Banfield Bans Unnecessary Cosmetic Surgeries on Dogs!

United States
August 5, 2009 12:01am CST
It's about dang time they start banning the mutilations of dogs and cats. Great news for dogs: Banfield, the nation's largest network of animal hospitals, with more than 730 hospitals and 2,000 veterinarians nationwide, has just announced that it will no longer dock dogs' tails, crop their ears, or remove their vocal cords--a cruel procedure known as devocalization, or de-barking! (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-07-30-dog-tails_N.htm) You can read the rest of the article here... http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare/blog/banfield-bans-unnecessary-cosmetic-surgeries-on-dogs/ How do you feel about this? I'm thrilled because if dogs were meant to have cropped ears or docked tails, they would be born that way. I don't look up to owners who have dobies or other dogs with the cut ears and docked tails at all. Same for declawing of cats. My vet doesn't do any of that and will give anyone a lecture on the cons of doing such cruel things to the animals. There are no pros to it that I can think of or even read about.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
6 Aug 09
This really is great news to hear, and I hope the remainder of animal hospitals and veterinarians follow suit and ban these practices against dogs....here's to hoping we see the day that declawing is banned--I know in England it is
1 person likes this
• United States
6 Aug 09
I hope they do as well. As someone mentioned in the comment section of the article, people will just do their own cropping and docking which is even worse for the poor dogs. Least when the vet does it, they are sleeping while being mutilated. Hopefully, the breed standards will change as well in the show ring. That will really put a stop to the nonsense.
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Aug 09
My dogs accept me the way I am , so I am accepting my dogs look the way they are....I don't understand breeding standards....same with cat claws...they only way of self protection for cats...very cruel and yet proposed by vet to me...I got mad at my vet... Instead of dogs show we should have peoples show and first place for those who fight to save dogs and cats life....
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
6 Aug 09
I was very mad...I would never consider it....
• United States
6 Aug 09
I would be not only mad but would give that vet the 3rd degree myself.
• United States
6 Aug 09
A vet suggested declawing? My vet would give you the 3rd degree if you even mentioned the word declaw.
@GardenGerty (160952)
• United States
6 Aug 09
I am with you on this one. It is nice to see that some vets are not motivated by the fees for the docking and stuff. I cannot imagine the pain this must cause and the fear. Thanks for posting this to our attention. It will remind people to support this chain of veterinarians.
• United States
6 Aug 09
Your very much welcome, GardenGerty. I'm sure in time, the other veterinarians will follow suit.
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
6 Aug 09
Great discussion! How sad, the pain some pets go through and it's all unnecessary. Maybe if some people had these acts done to them they would stop this.
• United States
6 Aug 09
I really wish the people that want to do this to their pets would have to go through the pain themselves first. Think if the breed standards are changed for showing, this might stop. Trickle-down effect...
@mcat19 (1357)
• United States
5 Aug 09
That is great news. Now if we can only get declawing banned. I know many declawed cats; it is not a nice thing at all. One cat will smack me and growl whenever I get near her.
• United States
5 Aug 09
Your right! People just don't get it with the declawing. It really does change the personality of the cat, usually for the worse. I knew a cat that was friendly as can be but when the idiots had her declawed, her personality did a complete turnaround. They then did the ultimate cruel thing and turned her over to animal control because of their very own ignorance. She most likely got put down cause noone was able to go near her without being bitten.
1 person likes this