Proposals which criminalize possession of a dog with a docked tail could frighten away potential adopters of docked dogs in shelters and rescues.
Criminalizing docked dogs would force large purebred dog shows, such as the annual Westminster Kennel Club at Madison Square Garden, out of New York State.
Based on AKC estimates, revenue contributed to New York’s economy by the annual Westminster Kennel Club show alone is $20 million.There are approximately 450 other dog shows each year in New York State, contributing an estimated $264 million to local New York economies.
According to the American Veterinary Medicine Association, tail docking has been the subject of very few controlled studies.The incidence and extent of complications and chronic health issues stemming from tail docking is generally not known.
Proper tail docking is a routine, minor procedure
●Over 50 dog breeds are traditionally docked.
●Almost all dogs are docked at 3 – 4 days from birth.Discomfort is minimal,and infection or other complicationsare rare when docking is done correctly.
●Spaying or neutering dogs is a much more invasive, risky procedure.
●For centuries, many types of working dogs have been docked to protect them from injuries to their tails.
Health care decisions should be made by dog owners, in consultation with their own veterinarians.
