To crop or not to crop? Answers to your blog questions
It was pretty challenging moving from the Eastern Block to Canada. I was studying and working crazy long hours. To be honest, I don’t know what happened. My sense is that all the hardship was necessary to become the person I am - the flawed being enjoying the mysteries of life, animals, dogs and trying to make a difference.
I see the positive energy building up and radiating within our community. It is an incredible feeling!
Even when what I call a "Facebook storm" happens and heated discussions come up, they seem more civilized.
At last count, my blog on ear cropping has received 180 shares and 78 comments from both those opposed to the practice and those who support it.
However, a “Facebook storm” will not cause you and me to put our heads in the sand about serious issues such as ear cropping.
Today, I would like to comment and reflect on a few points that ear cropping advocates brought up. If you have not read the original article, read it here first.
Four questions from ear cropping advocates answered
Q: Shouldn’t it be our right to crop ears?
A: Such opinions stem from the old-fashioned and legally-enforced idea that animals are property. Animals are living beings. Cutting their body parts without reason is comparable to telling someone, ‘I don't like your nose. I want you to have it changed.’ I just don’t understand why anyone would think that it should be our human right to alter other living beings.
Q: Are dogs with floppy ears more prone to infections?
A: In my experience, ear problems are related to diet, digestion, liver balance and neck and spine injuries and have very little to do with floppy ears. In fact, cropping ears severs many energy meridians and lines, which can cause more health problems.
Q: Should veterinarians continue to crop to prevent other people from cropping dogs?
A: As a veterinarian with 20-plus years of surgery experience, I can say ear cropping is one of the most painful and traumatic surgeries. Ears are extremely sensitive, much more than any other part of the body. Just the thought of anyone, without a veterinary license, performing the procedure is horrible. In other words, I am voting 100 percent for illegal ear cropping to be classified as a criminal offence.
Q: Should we continue cropping because people take their dogs to be cropped in countries where it is allowed?
A: Definitely not! What we need to do is communicate with other dog lovers around the world and little by little the world will change, the same as what happens in other areas of social change. Some time ago, slavery was legal and I’m sure that some people didn't like it when women got to vote and when same-sex marriage was legalized.
If someone asks me, ‘Why should ear cropping stop?’, I will answer with: ‘because animals are living, feeling, emotional beings, because ear cropping is unnecessary and painful and because we live in the 21st century.’
P.S. Share this blog post with others. Together, you and I can make more of a difference! Thank you!
© Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM
