AVMA House Rejects Policy Change on Ear Cropping and Tail Docking

AVMA House Rejects Policy Change on Ear Cropping and Tail Docking

Posted: Friday, July 10, 2009, 7:46 p.m., EDT

The _American Veterinary Medical Assn.'s_ (http://www.avma.org/) House of
Delegates on July 10 rejected Resolution 4, which would have revised its
policy on ear cropping and tail docking of dogs.
The action came during the legislative body's semi-annual session, held in
Seattle, Wash., before the AVMA's annual convention.
Submitted by the Utah Veterinary Medical Assn., the resolution would have
eased the AVMA policy, adopted by the executive board in November 2008, that
opposes ear cropping and tail docking when done solely for cosmetic
reasons.
The revision would have noted that the procedures, though offering limited
or no therapeutic value, are condoned by the _American Kennel Club_
(http://www.akc.org/) and many members of society. Because of that acceptance,
the policy would have stated that it is "imperative that the procedures be
performed by trained, licensed and caring veterinarians using current stand
of care" while continuing to support the elimination of those procedures
from breed standards.
In addition, the resolution would have revised AVMA policy to ensure that
association members "conform to all state mandates concerning the
procedures."
The November 2008 policy significantly altered the AVMA's position against
the two procedures; previous policy recommended only that veterinarians
discuss with clients the cosmetic nature of the procedures before performing
them.
A major reason for the resolution was to defend veterinarians willing to
perform such procedures who might otherwise be ostracized by the profession
for going against AVMA policy.
In its argument in favor of the resolution, the Utah VMA said the AVMA
should be wary of restricting pet owners' rights because it supports the
concept of pet ownership.