The fight against cosmetic surgery.

摘要

An interesting discussion regarding tail docking and ear cropping has been circulating around the veterinary community recently in this country. It has been an illegal practice in Newfoundland for many years, and the CVMA has had a position statement regarding this practice for some time that states: “The CVMA opposes surgical alteration of any animal, for purely cosmetic purposes.” New Brunswick kick-started the debate earlier this year by taking this position statement and turning it into a bylaw, making it unprofessional conduct for its members to perform these services. This move immediately got the attention of the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), which promptly requested a meeting with the CVMA Animal Welfare Committee (AWC). The AWC, whose previous request for a meeting with the CKC regarding breed standards had been ignored, agreed to meet. The CKC informed the AWC that its members had voted not to change any of the breed standards, even though veterinarians in part of the country would no longer be performing these services. The same tail docking and ear cropping debate occurred in Saskatchewan this spring, with the proposed bylaw tabled until their next AGM.