Information on the AVMA Opposition of Docking and Cropping and Recommended Revision of Breed Standards

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

AVMA ISSUES POSITION STATEMENT OPPOSING DOCKING AND CROPPING
The Board for the ARC has learned, via our AKC delegate, of a change in the official position of the AVMA to oppose cosmetic docking /cropping of companion animals in the United States. The Board has already begun to look at ways to confront this issue with the AVMA and the AKC. All help and suggestions in this regard are appreciated . We will issue periodic updates on the web site. Feel free to write the Board with any questions or suggestions on this topic. We are committed to retaining a choice for our dogs , and to make medical decisions for our animals.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

URGENT CALL TO ACTION OF ALL ARC MEMBERS AND OTHER CLUB MEMBERS OF DOCKED CROPPED BREEDS
This is an URGENT call to all ARC members and other club members of docked and/or cropped breeds: Please take a copy of the AVMA guidelines to your vet(s) and ask their opinion and if they are willing to help....real "hands on help".

Please send Jeff Shaver a list of any of your vet(s) who you talk to that will not support the AVMA, who will allow their names to be used and/or will do behind the scenes research to provide the data for a formal written response to the AVMA ( they may, of course, help write and/or edit it).

Due to the requirements of the AVMA for empirical data to dispute their new decision and change their mind, this type of data is a must. The DPCA (Doberman Pinscher Club of America) is doing the same. Other clubs of docked and/or cropped are invited to participate. Please contact Jeff Shaver for coordination and communication.

If you or your vet(s) have a question, they may call Jeff directly (713-557-0807) or email him at his work email. If your vet(s) can put you in contact with the State agency representative on these types of issues, they are welcome to contact Jeff as well. Please send Jeff this contact information and he will follow up.

All members with experience in this area please volunteer and contact Jeff.

The AVMA has made a big step toward making it illegal to own a docked/cropped breed. Think about it.


The AVMA Guidelines for Response:
Revisions to the policy on ear cropping and tail docking of dogs were approved by the AVMA Executive Board so the revised policy is current AVMA policy. AVMA has an every-five-year review schedule for its policies, which is what prompted this review. The recommended revisions were made after completion of literature reviews, deliberations by an assigned subcommittee of our Animal Welfare Committee, and deliberations by our full Animal Welfare Committee before the latter’s recommendations were made to our Board. Policies can always be revised, but revisions are expected to be done in accord with the current AVMA strategic goal for animal welfare, which is for the AVMA to be “an advocate for and an authoritative, science-based resource on animal welfare.”

We ask that requests for revision of policies be accompanied by data-based evidence that supports the benefits (or detriments…depending on what the request is) of the practice(s) in question. Because the policy of interest deals with ear cropping and tail docking of dogs when done for cosmetic purposes, in this particular case, it means the Animal Welfare Committee will be happy to review data-based evidence (as compared to anecdotal opinion) that supports the practices of tail docking and ear cropping for cosmetic purposes. Data need to be presented that suggest performing these procedures for cosmetic purposes conveys some benefit to the dog in question. In general, letters of protest, without accompanying data-based evidence, are unlikely to be effective in swaying the Committee in its recommendations.

Correspondence to the Committee containing information as described above may be forwarded to:

Animal Welfare Committee
C/O Animal Welfare Division
American Veterinary Medical Association
1931 N Meacham Rd, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173

Friday, November 21, 2008

AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB STATEMENT ON AVMA EAR CROPPING AND TAIL DOCKING POLICY

New York, NY (November 21, 2008) -- The American Kennel Club(r) was advised this week of the AVMA's newly amended policy on ear cropping and tail docking following its adoption by the AVMA Executive Board at the
recommendation of their Committee on Animal Welfare on November 15, 2008.

Historically, the AKC has worked closely with the AVMA to ensure that the rights of individual dog owners, and breed standards, remain protected. However, the AKC was very disappointed to not have been consulted regarding this latest iteration of the policy, despite having been in frequent contact with the AVMA in recent months.

At a joint meeting this Wednesday AKC explained to the AVMA that we recognize ear cropping and tail docking, as prescribed in certain breed standards, are acceptable practices integral to defining and preserving breed character, enhancing good health, and preventing injuries. These breed characteristics are procedures performed to insure the safety of dogs that on a daily basis perform heroic roles with Homeland Security, serve in the U.S. Military and at Police Departments protecting tens of thousands of communities throughout our nation as well as competing in the field.

Mislabeling these procedures as "cosmetic" is a severe mischaracterization that connotes a lack of respect and knowledge of history and the function of purebred dogs. Breed standards are established and maintained by AKC Parent Clubs (each of the 158 AKC registered breeds is stewarded by a breed-specific Parent Club) keeping foremost in mind the welfare of the breed and the function it was bred to perform.

As a not for profit organization that has been devoted to the advancement and welfare of dogs for 125 years, the AKC believes that all dog owners bear a special responsibility to their canine companions to provide proper ca re and humane treatment at all times and that responsible dog owners, in consultation with their veterinarian, have the right to make decisions regarding appropriate care and treatment of their pets.

AKC's policy on the issue, which remains unchanged, states:

The American Kennel Club recognizes that ear cropping, tail docking, and dewclaw removal, as described in certain breed standards, are acceptable practices integral to defining and preserving breed character and/or enhancing good health. Appropriate veterinary care should be provided.

Dog owners who would like to contact AVMA directly regarding their policy should direct comments to Gail Golab, head of the AVMA Animal Welfare Division: ggolab@avma.org or 847-925-8070