Veterinarians and animal welfare advocates are criticizing the provincial government’s decision to permit tail docking for dogs while moving to outlaw other unnecessary procedures in Ontario. Effective January 1, 2027, veterinarians will be prohibited from declawing cats, cropping dogs’ ears, or performing devocalization unless medically required. Ontario, being the final province in Canada to implement these restrictions, stands alone without a veterinary ban on tail docking, a practice involving the partial removal of a puppy’s tail shortly after birth. Advocacy groups advocating for a ban remain puzzled by this exclusion.
Dr. Janice Honda, the President of the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA), highlights that docking can lead to immediate and chronic pain, as well as the loss of a crucial body part that dogs use for communication and mobility. OVMA and Animal Justice, a Canadian animal law advocacy group, both pressured Ontario to include tail docking in a recent public consultation on the new regulations.
However, Doberman breeder Isolde Ryan holds a differing view. With over four decades of experience breeding these dogs, Ryan asserts that she has not witnessed any suffering resulting from ear-cropping or tail docking when carried out professionally under veterinary supervision. Ryan expresses concerns that bans on these procedures may drive potential buyers towards less reputable sources, such as puppy mills. She notes a spike in demand for Dobermans with cropped ears ahead of the impending ban.
Ryan argues that historically, docking was primarily aimed at preventing injuries rather than solely altering a dog’s appearance. She points out that some tail injuries can escalate to the point of necessitating surgery later in a dog’s life, a risk that docking aims to mitigate. The Canadian Kennel Club conducted a survey among its members in 2024, with 69% citing injury prevention as the primary rationale for supporting tail docking.
Alexandra Yaksich, the legislative affairs manager at Animal Justice, dismisses the injury prevention argument as overly cautious, likening it to extreme measures. Yaksich emphasizes that the potential benefits do not outweigh the pain and risks associated with the procedure. Various studies have assessed the efficacy of docking in preventing tail injuries, with findings indicating that a substantial number of dogs would need to undergo docking to prevent a single injury.
Yaksich commends the progress made with the new restrictions on ear-cropping, declawing, and devocalization but expresses disappointment over the omission of a ban on tail docking. Saddam Khussain, a senior issues advisor and press secretary for the Ministry of the Solicitor General, mentions consultation with breeders, veterinarians, and shelters regarding pet procedure restrictions but does not provide a specific rationale for excluding tail docking. He hints at potential consideration of the procedure in future policy proposals.
Both Animal Justice and OVMA vow to continue advocating for a ban on tail docking in Ontario. Yaksich underscores that dogs should not be viewed as objects subject to reshaping based on aesthetic preferences.