by Christopher Mcphail

Created on: January 06, 2009

It isnt cruel, end of discussion. There are certain breeds that have tails docked, and then there are those that do not. Generally speaking, the dogs that have their tails docked are of European descent, and the tails are docked for a reason. Today, it is more of a tradition then anything else, and really serves no useful purpose, other then being the standard of the breed, as recognized by the AKC, and if your not going to show the dog there really isn't a reason to dock the tail.

The practice began in ancient English times, when the kings of the day were looking to have more money through taxes. It also occured around the same time that dogs became common place as pets and as working dogs. The Kings of the day decided to tax a dog based on the length of the tail, in order to get around this, the English peasants or European peasants began cutting the animals tails in order to pay less in taxes. Over a period of years, generations even, it just became the norm and the practice continues today.

Docking a dogs tail doesn't cause them harm, or pain. I have been present while the tails are being docked, and the dogs don't even whimper. It is no more cruel then the practice of circumcision. It is done at an age where the dogs tail is still soft cartilage, and at a stage when the dogs nervous system isn't fully wired yet, so the pain receptors don't register the tail being cut.

I noticed that not many people have written for the NO side, and I have yet to read the yes side, that comes next, but I will tell you what is cruel. Dressing dogs up in clothes and trying to humanize them. I have seen dogs wearing some of the most god awful clothes in the world, and you can see it in their eyes, pleading with you to take it off of them, or put them out of their misery. I love dogs, and treat them like they are my children. They depend on me, for food, for shelter, for love, and people that dont understand dogs, are generally the people who think anything is cruel. They are so willing to join PETA or ASPCA simply because its chic, and they don't really understand the foundation of those organizations. Their is a difference between cruelty and tradition. As dogs tails are no longer being taxed docking the tails is a moot point, but the tradition runs deep. And as stated in another article, sometimes the docking of the tails is for the dogs health. Not nearly as many dogs are being used for their intended purpose as they used to be, but once again, tradition is hard to break.

I dont see docking a tail as any more cruel then dressing a Chiuaua in a pink tutu.

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