Starting January 1, it will be illegal for veterinarians in Quebec to perform aesthetic surgeries on animals. Such procedures -- known as 鈥榙ocking鈥� when animals鈥� tails are clipped and 鈥榗ropping鈥� when ears are trimmed -- are painful for pets, the says.
鈥淲e know that this is a cosmetic surgery only, and unless there is something like a damaged tail that requires amputation or an ear that was injured, we will not be doing these amputations,鈥� Dr. Enid Stiles, a veterinarian with the , told CTV Montreal. 鈥淭hey are painful procedures.鈥�
Many of the province鈥檚 breeders, however, claim they are abiding by breed standards. Francoise Allard, for example, disagrees with the new regulations.
鈥淚t鈥檚 done at one day,鈥� Allard of told CTV Montreal. 鈥淭he puppy barely knows.鈥�
To meet breed standards, dogs like Doberman Pinschers, which Allard breeds, must have their as puppies. Allard, who has been breeding dogs for more than three decades, claims the procedures aren鈥檛 strictly cosmetic.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not only Dobermans,鈥� Allard said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the herding breeds that go with the cows, with the sheep and everything. They can get hurt. So that鈥檚 why they dock the tails.鈥�
Until now, the decision to dock or crop dogs has been left up to veterinarians, many of whom choose not to perform the procedures, saying that they鈥檙e painful for animals.
鈥淚 think it's fantastic that they鈥檝e done this,鈥� Stiles said of the new regulations. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really been a way for us as veterinarians to encourage social change -- and I think we know what is ethical.鈥�
But with such procedures still being legal in the United States and provinces like Ontario, breeders like Allard will likely continue docking and cropping their animals outside of the province.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a vet in the States -- they do it,鈥� Allard said. 鈥淵ou have to. And even some people who are not vets do it.鈥�
With files from CTV Montreal
