I personally would like to see the AKC and other influential clubs come out against any cosmetic changes to the dog's body - tails, ears, etc. Dewclaws, I can understand because they're so easily torn and can be painful.
I had two of my cats front claws removed years ago because I couldn't control their scratching. My then vet said it would not be painful to the kitties because they were so young. Baloney! They came home with their little legs in bandages and with splints to keep them from trying to walk on them. And they were clearly in some pain. I learned later that declawing is the equivalent to removing the last joint of your finger. I will never do that again! |