the publications quoted).
The move toward the UK’s crop- ping ban can arguably be traced back to the passing of the Cru- elty to Animals Act in 1835, consequently this is where we will begin. Building on exist- ing legislation passed in 1822 to protect cattle, the new act extended protection to other domesticated animals, created shelters and veterinary hospitals and banned sports such as bull and bear baiting. As you will see, the spirit of the law was not initially intended to extend to cropping, though even then neg- ative sentiment toward the prac- tice was evident. Interestingly, it was because a ban on rat baiting was not enforced that it came to the forefront as a gambling sport and the breed’s development and popularity soared. Ironical- ly, half a century later the same movement that initially pro- pelled its growth would almost see it disappear as many breed- ers abandoned the breed.
The Law Times, Volume 47 (1869) Cruelty to Animals
Some recent decisions of magis- trates have surely gone beyond the purview of this very whole- some law. In one case the kill- ing, or attempting to kill, a cat that was destroying a flower bed was made the subject of a con- viction. In another, the clipping of a terrier’s ears in accordance
with an ancient,b ut as we con- ceive a tasteless and perhaps useless, custom of dog fanciers. The purpose of the statute was to punish wanton cruelty—that is to say, pain inflicted upon an animal with a cruel intent; or with such inconsiderateness as amounts to cruelty...
So with the clipping of the ter- riers ears. Was it done with a cruel intent or with a bona fide to do what was deemed, howev- er wrongfully, to be an improve- ment of the personal appearance of the dog. If that is cruelty within the act, so must be a hun- dred other dealings with that are supposed, rightly or wrongly, to give them additional value. We need only refer to castration, spaying, the excision of lambs’ tails, butting the combs of cocks, &c., which are cruelties of pre- cisely the same kind as clipping a dog’s ears. It might be desir- able to put a stop to all or some of these customs; but then it should be done by express enact- ment, and not under the cover of a law designed to punish merely wanton cruelty.
The Dogs of the British Isles (1872)
The Black And Tan
Terrier By Hugh Dalziel
[Cropping] is a practice I strong- ly deprecate, and never miss an opportunity of protesting against; and I believe there is a general feeling arising against it; and among others who strongly condemn it is the best judge of the breed living, Mr. S. Handley. The supporters of the practice cannot offer a single valid argu- ment in its favour, whilst there are many strong reasons against it. It is sheer nonsense to say the dogs look better cropped. It is not many years since people thought pugs looked better with their ears shorn off by the roots, but nobody thinks so now; and the practice as regards terriers could be effectually stopped by a resolution of the Kennel Club to the effect that no dog with cut ears would be eligible to com- pete at any of their shows after 1879.
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BLACK & TAN | FALL 2010
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