by Perry McCarney

Created on: January 02, 2009   Last Updated: January 29, 2011

Every four years the Paralympics gifts us with many demonstrations of people overcoming physical disadvantages to achieve atheletic performances beyond the capability of most able-bodied people. But how many Paralympic gold-medalist amputees would not happily exchange their gold medal for their lost limb back? Any at all?

Our dogs' tails are also limbs.

The natural design of the canine tail, as seen on many of our domestic breeds as well as all the wild canine species, is a lengthy, tubular, slowly tapering appendage of muscle, blood vessels and nerves bound in cartilage. It has two main purposes: balance and communication. When the animal runs, particularly at speed, the tail acts as a rudder, providing the balancing to enable the leaping of obstacles and quick changes of direction. In canine communication, the tail is a major component; by its positioning and movement the animal communicates his or her emotions and attitudes in response to others and their current environment and situation.

That we have deprived so many of our domestic breeds through our generational breeding programs of fully functional tails is bad enough. Deliberately cutting the tails short on breeds where breeding hasn't reduced them sufficient to satisfy some ludicrous, aesthetic ideal is simply evil!

And that is all that docking is, the deliberate removal of a portion of the tail because the owner of the dog wishes it done. The surgical removal of a portion of the tail for medical reasons, such as an injury or infection, is not docking, it is a medical amputation. It is the only legitimate reason for deliberately removing any portion of a dog's tail.

In New Zealand, the docking of dog's tails or the cropping of their ears are considered illegal surgical procedures under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 unless done for sound medical reasons. Individual transgressors are liable to up to six months imprisonment and/or a maximum fine of $25,000. Corporate bodies, such as a veterinary practice, can receive fines of up to $125,000 if found guilty of doing so without valid medical justification.

Accidents do happen, both people and dogs can lose limbs, and both are capable of facing and overcoming these disabilities. I have met a number of three-legged dogs that still found great pleasure and joy in life, but that certainly doesn't mean it would be okay to go around "docking" one of our dogs' legs. That would, quite rightly, be considered appallingly cruel; there is no valid reason that the docking of tails should not be considered equally so.

Some dogs develop psychological issues, almost always because of how people raise them. An obsession with their own tails may be symptomatic in some such issues. Docking their tail will no more cure their mental health problem than giving sedatives to a psychotic human cures theirs.

It would be considered a cruel and unusual punishment if we threw off a person's balance by damaging their ear canal and their ability to communicate by removing their tongue, docking a dog's tail has exactly the same effect!

Learn more about this author, Perry McCarney.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.