Have you ever seen a Rottweiler with a tail? If so, did you wonder if the dog was even truly a purebred Rottweiler? You may be doing a LOT more wondering in the very near future.There is a law proposed in Germany, which would take effect on May 1, 1998 if passed, which will forbid the docking of tails on most breeds, including Rottweilers, Dobermanns and Boxers. A few hunting breeds will still be allowed to have their tails docked, but the rest of the breeds shall take on a new look.
ADRK Judge and Kormeister Anton Spindler has a webpage up talking about the proposed ban. It is NOT meant to be an official ADRK statement on the issue, but simply Herr Spindler's take on the situation. It may be viewed at: http://www.augsburg.baynet.de/homepages/ba412500/ADRK/ADRKTAIL.HTM. According to his page, this new law will affect approximately 22,000 puppies born each year in 38 breed clubs with approximately 85,000 members. Apparently also included in the law is a proposal to ban the use of electric collars. The ADRK will be having it's anual meeting and this issue will be discussed (the docking issue, not the collar one).
The information below is taken, with permission, from the webpage of the Council of Docked Breeds (in England). Their page is located at: http://www.cdb.org and has a LOT of very interesting information. The legislation is being pushed and backed by the Council of Europe in a piece of legislation called the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals (ECPPA).
"The Council of Europe is NOT the same as the European Union. It is an association of 39 European States which seeks accord on matters related to the environment, culture etc. The twelve European Union member states are however, all members of the Council of Europe."
"Its Conventions do not carry the force of law, and member states which sign up to them are not obliged to alter their national legislation unless they ratify the Convention. Even so, Conventions do carry considerable influence and moral force. Resolutions do have to be adhered to in countries which have ratified a Convention."
If you think PETA is bad, you don't want to see what this group is up to! They are trying to ban and drastically change MUCH of what is involved in the breeding of purebred dogs. And the VERY scary part is that they are getting there quickly!
From parts of the proposal:
"1 - encourage the breeding associations to reconsider breed standards in order , if appropriate, to amend those which can cause welfare problems to select animals taking into account not only aesthetic criteria but behavioural characteristics and "abilities" to ensure, by information and education of breeders and judges, that breed standards are interpreted in such a way as to counteract the development of extreme characteristics that can cause welfare problems to raise public awareness of problems related to physical and behavioural characteristics"
"2 - consider, if these measures are not sufficient, prohibiting the breeding and phasing out of exhibiting and selling certain types or breeds with "harmful defects""
*"Surgical operations for the purpose of modifying the appearance of a pet animal or for other non-curative purposes shall be prohibited and, in particular: a. the docking of tails & b. declawing and defanging".
*"set maximum and minimum values for height or weight of very large or very small dogs, respectively"
*"set maximum values for the proportion between length and height of short legged dogs"
*"set limits to the shortness of skull, respectively nose"Thus, while the issue of tail docking may seem simple at first, it is not. Ear cropping was outlawed a few years ago, and as this did not affect many people, it went unnoticed and many breeders go ahead and crop anyway. Now they are working on tail docking, and as seen above, they wish to essentially get rid of certain breeds.
"if these measures are not sufficient, prohibiting the breeding and phasing out of exhibiting and selling certain types or breeds with "harmful defects" "
"Guidelines for the revision of breed policies:
*set maximum and minimum values for height or weight of very large or very small dogs, respectively, to avoid skeleton and joint disorders (e.g. dysphasia of hip joints or elbows, fractures, luxation of elbow or patella, persistent fontanella) and collapse of tracheas.
*set maximum values for the proportion between length and height of short legged dogs (e.g. Bassethound, Dachshund) to avoid disorders of the vertebral column.
*set limits to the shortness of skull, respectively nose, so that breathing difficulties and blockage of lachrymal ducts are avoided, as well as disposition to birth difficulties (e.g. Persian cats, Bulldogs, Japan Chin, King Charles Spaniel, Pug, Pekin Palacedog)." At first that doesn't sound so bad. The FCI standard for the Rottweiler prescribes certain ratios of muzzle to skull length, height to body length, etc. And who doesn't want to prevent HD, ED, and all the other problems listed?
Here is where things start getting VERY scary. The below things are to be "prevented." Nothing is specified as to HOW they are to be prevented. Since much of what is done in the world of purebred dogs is deemed cruel by certain extremist animal rights groups, I'm sure the answer becomes evident of how they'd like to "prevent" such things from happening.
"prevent the occurrence of;
*a persistent fontella (e.g. Chihuahua) to avoid brain damages;
*abnormal positions of legs (e.g. very steep line of hind legs in Chow Chow, Norwegian Buhund, Swedish Lapphund, Finnish Spitz; bowed legs in Bassethound, Pekin Palacedog, Shi Tzu) to avoid difficulties in movement and joint degeneration.
*abnormal positions of teeth (e.g. brachygnathia in Boxers, Bulldogs, Persian Cats) to avoid difficulties in feeding and caring for the new born.
*abnormal size and form of eyes or eyelids (e.g. ectropium: Bassethound, Bloodhound, St Bernard).
*small deep lying eyes with disposition to entropium (e.g. Airedale Terrier, Australian Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Bullterrier, Bloodhound, Chow Chow, English Toy Terrier, Jagdterrier, Newfoundland, Shar Pei).
*large protruding eyes (e.g. Boston Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Brussels Griffon, Japan Chin, King Charles Spaniel, Pug, Pekin Palace Dog, Shi Tzu, Tibet Terrier) to avoid irritation, inflammation and degeneration as well as prolapse of eyes.
*very long ears (e.g. English Cocker Spaniels, Bassethound, Bloodhound) to avoid disposition to injuries.
*markedly folded skin (e.g. Bassethound, Bulldog, Bloodhound, Pug, Pekin Palacedog, Shar Pei) to avoid eczema's and in the case of furrows around the eyes irritation and inflammation of eyes. "And here's where they come right out and say it "You shouldn't be breeding these animals!" YIKES!!!!!!
"Avoid or, if it is not possible to eliminate severe defects, discontinued breeding of:
*animals carrying semi-lethal factors (e.g. Entlebucher Cattledog);
*animals carrying recessive defect-genes (e.g. homocygotic Scottish Fold Cat; short legs, vertebral column and tail defects)
*hairless dogs and cats (lack of protection against sun and chill, disposition to significant reduction of number of teeth, semi-lethal factor)
*Manx-cat (movement disorder, disposition to vertebral column defects, difficulties in elimination of urine and faeces, semi-lethal factor)
*cats carrying "dominant white" (significant disposition to deafness);
*dogs carrying "Merle factor" (significant disposition to deafness and eye disorders, e.g. Blue Merle Collie, Merle Sheltie, Merle Corgi, Merle Bobtail, Tigerdogge, Tigerteckel)"Often times, legislation such as this seems harmless and breed clubs do not take it seriously. However, such extremist groups are gaining support because no one in the purebred dog world takes them seriously enough to go out and counter the disinformation that is being dispersed.
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