[Nancy1999]

I don't think it is done for purely cosmetic reasons because if that were true, there would be no exceptions for working breeds. It's done because a tail breakage in later life is extremely painful. For the sake of argument though, lets compare it to the piecing of baby girls ears, now this is done purely for the cosmetic reasons. It is painful, and the baby has no say-so in the procedure. While I've heard of puppies continuing to nurse through the procedure of cropping, I'm sure the pain involved with ear piecing is more intense. Now some of you probably think we should outlaw this as well, it's causing the girls pain, but is it really "cruel". I think that's where the argument lies, is this procedure "cruel" or merely painful. It's over quickly, although with baby girls they have to do it twice, however, I'm not sure you could call it cruel. Although, I would not inflict this pain on my baby girl, I do not believe I have the right to make laws to prevent others from doing it, if I thought it were indeed cruel, than I would be ok with making the law, but I really feel strongly about not making a law for everything we think is "wrong."

As far as causing pain for the dogs, if we stopped doing everything that caused them pain, we'd probably have to stop breeding them. Don't mama's experience lots of pain during birth? Again, is this cruel?