MONTPELIER, VT. — The Vermont Senate gave a bill banning ear cropping the nod last month, leaving the House to decide if the state will become
the first in the country to outlaw the procedure.
S.250 must skirt opposition of the American Kennel Club (AKC) and breeders, a force that has overpowered similar legislation
in California.
The Vermont Veterinary Medical Association (VVMA) and several humane organizations are providing the lobbying muscle behind
Sen. Ann Cummings', D-Wash., push to promote the bill.
The ear-cropping procedure is going under the knife by some veterinarians. The cosmetic procedure has been scrutinized in
Vermont and California.
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"The United States is the only industrialized country that encourages the cosmetic procedure," says Dr. Karen Bradley, VVMA
animal welfare committee chairman and owner of Onion River Animal Hospital. "The majority of veterinarians do not like to
perform the procedure, but do it fearing clients will seek nonprofessionals, furthering animals' health risk."
Some veterinarians, however, do not consider cropping dogs' ears inhumane as long as the surgery is performed in sterile conditions,
under anesthesia and with pain medicine.
"As long as the procedure is legal, I see no problem with it," says Dr. Lloyd Meisels, hospital director, Coral Springs Animal
Hospital in Florida. "The key is performing the procedure humanely. I do not like the idea of the government telling veterinarians
(outside of practice acts) how to perform their jobs. I hope the legislation doesn't pass."
Bradley says veterinarians are not against the procedure for therapeutic purposes, but the percentage of ear crops performed
for this reason are small, and the legislation would not ban this.
VVMA officials say veterinarians are not taught the procedure at universities and information on the topic is absent from
recent textbooks.
If the legislation becomes law, a first-time offender would pay a civil fine similar to a speeding ticket. The penalty for
a second-time offender increases to a misdemeanor, carrying a $2,000 fine and up to a year in jail. A third offense brings
a $5,000 fine and up to two years in jail.
Opposition weighs in
"This legislation is a way the government comes between veterinarians and owners," says Stephanie Lane, AKC director for canine
legislation. "Responsible dog owners and breeders should make informed decisions about their pets' care, not the government.
This is a slippery slope to removing veterinarians' and owners' rights to make decisions about animal care and treatment."
Lane says the club fears this legislation will drive people out of the state or underground for the procedure.
George Sexton, legislative liaison for the Vermont Federation of Dog Clubs, says he has no personal interest in ear cropping,
but fears this legislation has a hidden agenda.
"This bill infringes on veterinarians' rights to practice and owners' rights to care for their pets," Sexton says. "The argument
is that this surgery causes pain to the animals, but so does spaying and neutering. Animals don't have a choice in that, either."
Yet Sen. Richard Sears, the Senate committee's chairman, is a believer in banning the cosmetic procedure.
"I have received more e-mails regarding this piece of legislation than any other presented in this year's legislative calendar,"
Sears says. "Many breeders are upset, but there haven't been complaints from the veterinary community."
Vermont veterinarian's stance
VVMA surveyed 192 of its members asking if they agree the procedure does not fall under the guidelines of the Veterinarian's
Oath. While all responding members agreed, no one other than a veterinarian should be permitted to perform the procedure,
36 were in support of the legislation as written and 12 respondents were concerned that the legislation would set a precedent
to ban other medical procedures.
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