Ignorant Vets

[safaritours]

Having recently imported two bitches from overseas into Australia, I took them to the vet for the usual vaccinations only to be greeted by the words, those dogs have short tails, not hello or nice puppies my reply was yes they are nice looking, again I was told it was illegal to dock to which I replied I had imported the pups already docked, at eight weeks old he could have not failed to notice the well healed tails, this time the reply was It is illegal to own a docked dog in Australia whether imported or not, he went on to say it was also illegal to dock everywhere in the world now, and the law pertaining to not being allowed to own a docked dog was there to catch people people like me who tried to avoid the law, my reply was to advise him of all the countries that I knew that allowed docking and to tell him to report me to the police for prosecution and to get on and finish the vaccinations and I left.

This shows how ignorant some vets are and these are probably the same vets that helped in the fight to ban docking, I believe they are unimportant little people trying to make themselves important and have know idea on the need for docking of working dogs, but it shows that there is a need for all owners of docked dogs to keep up to date with the regulations old and pending, and for those people like me in countries where docking is now banned to keep up the fight to have docking made legal again and not just give in.

Note,, This vet is from a busy practice with five or more other vets he specializers in small animal. one of his Co workers was past president of the Australian veterinary Association,if they don't know the law who does ?.

[sieglinde]

Ignorant & rude I would say.
I don't think I would use him as my vet to look after the wellfare of my dogs.

[tasha]

sadly mis information is something that I have found to be rife. Am shocked that a professional would intentionally mislead a client it is not their job to judge although they obviously have a responsibility to check that it has been done correctly.

[narelle]

Where are you located? I thought you were in NZ. Who is the vet.

Narelle in Sydney

[Cheryl]

And, will you introduce your new, two?

[fyreside]

safaritours where are you located? I too would like to know where this vet practice is. We need to make sure that people/clients who are in the surrounding area to this clinic with (previously) docked breeds, are aware of this mis information.

Marg in Melbourne

[safaritours]

I am 250klm west of Melbourne so you have no worries fortunately, Like I said keep up with the regulations and fire them back at anyone who gives you a hard time especially inform people of the the countries that have allowed partial or full docking since Australia banned it, I might add I was a dairy farmer and watched farmers and vets using hacksaws on adult cows tails, after bending them to break, unfortunately for the cows they do not count like dogs maybe because farmers have an organization that fights for them very well.

[ryanatc]

There has been talk here in the USA about banning tail docking (especially from the PETA group). I like the look, if you use a quality vet that knows what he is doing, you get excellent looking tails. My pups are 4 weeks old - tails were docked at 3 days old and dew claws removed. All have healed nicely and the fur is now beginning to cover the tips!

I will have to agree - Look for a new Vet! This person really does not seem to have any idea about the REST of the World!

***Side Note*** I am a hunter and I despise PETA people! However here is my version of what PETA stands for - People Eating Tasty Animals -

[tasha]

sadly PETA are alot more organised than we are and we are a minority deemed to be cruel to our animals its easy for a group like that who have alot of funding behind them to get politically what they want and sadly the rest of us are paying the price for it because subjects like this are deemed politically easy fights that will get the public more interested in politics.

All crap of course but people are sheep and will follow the crowd and who wants to see 'mutilated' animals...

Have the americans lost their ear cropping yet??? I thought that would be the first thing on their agenda in the states shortly followed by hunting.

[ryanatc]

tasha said:

sadly PETA are alot more organised than we are and we are a minority deemed to be cruel to our animals its easy for a group like that who have alot of funding behind them to get politically what they want and sadly the rest of us are paying the price for it because subjects like this are deemed politically easy fights that will get the public more interested in politics.

All crap of course but people are sheep and will follow the crowd and who wants to see 'mutilated' animals...

Have the americans lost their ear cropping yet??? I thought that would be the first thing on their agenda in the states shortly followed by hunting.

Very well stated!

As for ear cropping - I do not know anything about that (sorry).

[Rachel]

I have always liked a dog with a docked tail. But I must say that we kept a puppy with a tail since the tail docking ban and she has a superb tail. I never thought I would say that.
I have heard of a vet refusing someone to dock even though they had all the relevant certificates saying that another practise has been in trouble due to docking, with the veterinary board even though all the correct documentation was provided. Also I have heard how some people have taken dogs with docked tails to training class's and the trainers are giving them a hard time saying its illegal. I suppose this is to be expected until things settle down with regards to people knowing what they can or can not do. Still wish we had a choice.
Rachel in the UK.

[Rachel]

Does anyone know if sheep banding was banned or was it just dogs?

Rachel

[tasha]

just dogs as far as I am aware they'd be irresponsible to ban it for sheep.

[greyflyte]

Interesting it has now come to public knowledge that australia is planning to stop docked imports and also not show docked pups with a date of birth after jan 08. Your vet must have had inside information to has known this............

[anne]

tasha said:

Have the americans lost their ear cropping yet??? I thought that would be the first thing on their agenda in the states shortly followed by hunting.

We are still allowed to ear crop, thanks largely to the Doberman people. They seem to be pretty well organized.

I don't see that it will be too much longer before we will see cropping and docking -- and hunting -- banned here. I live in Los Angeles and the Hollywood crowd is very influential. We barely defeated the mandatory spay/neuter at 4 months and mandatory microchipping in California (which went thru in Los Angeles County); but it will be back in January 08. Losing that battle especially at a state level is going to mean bad news for cropping, docking and dew claw removal.

[narelle]

greyflyte said:

Interesting it has now come to public knowledge that australia is planning to stop docked imports and also not show docked pups with a date of birth after jan 08. Your vet must have had inside information to has known this............

What??

[greyflyte]

yes indeed, our AR people are pushing the ban again despite the select committee voting against it, so we are strating to fight all over again.
We have been in touch with people in australia and this is the information coming in.

[narelle]

greyflyte said:

yes indeed, our AR people are pushing the ban again despite the select committee voting against it, so we are strating to fight all over again.
We have been in touch with people in australia and this is the information coming in.

I haven't heard anything like what you have suggested from any points so I am making some enquiries ... with something this serious I would have thought it would have been around the rings or reported in our state gazettes.

[greyflyte]

Thought you all might like to know that with the application of certain pressure, the CCCQ has today withdrawn their motion to the ANKC to prohibit docked dogs from being exhibited.

Yay for common sense

[tasha]

well thats one good thing...

I did see a tail recently though that had been docked and whoever did it should be shot was dreadful, pity done well they get good coverage on the end of the tail but this dog was totally bald for at least and inch.