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by sueincc on 30 July 2011 - 22:07
Ironic, isn't it?
by Rik on 31 July 2011 - 11:07
red sable pretty much covered what I intended to say with the neutering and declawing comments. I've never had a dog de-barked, have considered it and would do so if I felt it was needed.
The dog I have now is with me pretty much 24/7, and I enjoy her company a lot. But I guess I'm a little old school and she will always be my dog, not my child or even remotely human. She is here for my purpose and if she needed de-barking to fit that purpose, then she would be de-barked. And I wouldn't think twice about it.
The dog I have now is with me pretty much 24/7, and I enjoy her company a lot. But I guess I'm a little old school and she will always be my dog, not my child or even remotely human. She is here for my purpose and if she needed de-barking to fit that purpose, then she would be de-barked. And I wouldn't think twice about it.
by Jenni78 on 31 July 2011 - 16:07
Oh, lots and lots of irony here.
I have mixed opinions. I have never researched de-barking, and from just what I'm reading here (from those whose opinions I usually trust), it's not nearly the cruel and invasive procedure it's reputed to be. Since I had never thought about it or known anyone whose dog was de-barked, I thought about it while reading this thread and thought a lot about what difference it makes to the dog. I'm guessing very little, actually. For problem barkers, barking can become self-fulfilling, and if it were no longer fulfilling, I suspect they would quit- but they don't; they continue on despite the surgery, telling me it has made little impact on their psyche. Thus, I have to say that my conclusion would be that de-barking would be at the bottom of my list of things to condemn dog owners for and I will continue my laissez-faire stance on it, though on principle, I probably would not do it myself unless you told me that it would make the screaming of a Pit Bull less obnoxious.
As almost all of you know, I am vehemently against spaying and neutering as elective procedures due to increased health risks. Medically necessary operations are entirely different, and certainly, being sterile is usually more desireable than being dead or homeless, so again, I defer to logic and need on that one.
Declawing is a different story in a sense; that is something that can have serious complications (especially when botched) and lifelong effects on a cat. They aren't just claws to a cat; they're the final joint and they have far more functions than say, our fingernails or the nails on a dog. People often don't realize this. I would never do this to a cat, especially an adult. However, as RS said, there are happy declawed cats.
Ear cropping, I've done. My Pit was little and had horribly long, thin ears that got torn up every time he roughoused w/another dog. He survived the ordeal, looks great, and we've moved on quite nicely. Tail docking, I have mixed feelings on, however, as the tail is an extension of the spine, and there has been some debate as to whether or not it predisposes dogs to certain spinal conditions later on. I would not do this electively.
Basicallly, in a nutshell, I am against elective altering in any sense, but never say never; I prefer to look at all angles and weigh the effect (mentally and physically) on the ANIMAL first, then weigh in human convenience and as long as all angles have been examined, it comes down to owner preference.
I have mixed opinions. I have never researched de-barking, and from just what I'm reading here (from those whose opinions I usually trust), it's not nearly the cruel and invasive procedure it's reputed to be. Since I had never thought about it or known anyone whose dog was de-barked, I thought about it while reading this thread and thought a lot about what difference it makes to the dog. I'm guessing very little, actually. For problem barkers, barking can become self-fulfilling, and if it were no longer fulfilling, I suspect they would quit- but they don't; they continue on despite the surgery, telling me it has made little impact on their psyche. Thus, I have to say that my conclusion would be that de-barking would be at the bottom of my list of things to condemn dog owners for and I will continue my laissez-faire stance on it, though on principle, I probably would not do it myself unless you told me that it would make the screaming of a Pit Bull less obnoxious.
As almost all of you know, I am vehemently against spaying and neutering as elective procedures due to increased health risks. Medically necessary operations are entirely different, and certainly, being sterile is usually more desireable than being dead or homeless, so again, I defer to logic and need on that one.
Declawing is a different story in a sense; that is something that can have serious complications (especially when botched) and lifelong effects on a cat. They aren't just claws to a cat; they're the final joint and they have far more functions than say, our fingernails or the nails on a dog. People often don't realize this. I would never do this to a cat, especially an adult. However, as RS said, there are happy declawed cats.
Ear cropping, I've done. My Pit was little and had horribly long, thin ears that got torn up every time he roughoused w/another dog. He survived the ordeal, looks great, and we've moved on quite nicely. Tail docking, I have mixed feelings on, however, as the tail is an extension of the spine, and there has been some debate as to whether or not it predisposes dogs to certain spinal conditions later on. I would not do this electively.
Basicallly, in a nutshell, I am against elective altering in any sense, but never say never; I prefer to look at all angles and weigh the effect (mentally and physically) on the ANIMAL first, then weigh in human convenience and as long as all angles have been examined, it comes down to owner preference.
by Red Sable on 31 July 2011 - 19:07
Your post made a lot of sense Jenni, and you have medical reasons to back up your decisions, where some ( at least the impression I get) are against certain things because 'it is mean' to their furbabies.
I can't disagree with your logic at all - on any of those issues.
I can't disagree with your logic at all - on any of those issues.
by zepellin88 on 04 August 2011 - 10:08
I dont think there is anything wrong with debarking as a last measure to shut the dog up, nor do I think there is anything wrong with docking tails or ears.... Its a dog its not like it has a freaking complexion. It cant look in the mirrow one day and say hmm I dont like what my owners have done to my body.
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