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AVMA House Rejects Policy Change on Ear Cropping and Tail Docking
Posted: Friday, July 10, 2009, 7:46 p.m., EDT

The American Veterinary Medical Assn.'s House of Delegates on July 10 rejected
Resolution 4, which would have revised its policy on ear cropping and tail
docking of dogs.

The action came during the legislative body's semi-annual session, held in
Seattle, Wash., before the AVMA's annual convention.

Submitted by the Utah Veterinary Medical Assn., the resolution would have eased
the AVMA policy, adopted by the executive board in November 2008, that opposes
ear cropping and tail docking when done solely for cosmetic reasons.

The revision would have noted that the procedures, though offering limited or no
therapeutic value, are condoned by the American Kennel Club and many members of
society. Because of that acceptance, the policy would have stated that it is
"imperative that the procedures be performed by trained, licensed and caring
veterinarians using current stand of care" while continuing to support the
elimination of those procedures from breed standards.

In addition, the resolution would have revised AVMA policy to ensure that
association members "conform to all state mandates concerning the procedures."

The November 2008 policy significantly altered the AVMA's position against the
two procedures; previous policy recommended only that veterinarians discuss with
clients the cosmetic nature of the procedures before performing them.

A major reason for the resolution was to defend veterinarians willing to perform
such procedures who might otherwise be ostracized by the profession for going
against AVMA policy.

In its argument in favor of the resolution, the Utah VMA said the AVMA should be
wary of restricting pet owners' rights because it supports the concept of pet
ownership.

In other action:

•The House Advisory Committee withdrew Resolution 2, a revision of AVMA policy
on the use of random-source dogs and cats in research, testing and education.
Though no reason for the withdrawal was given, the resolution may have been
based on a flawed understanding of "pound seizure" laws. New resolutions on the
matter could surface at future House of Delegates sessions.
.
•The House of Delegates approved Resolution 1, giving the American Assn. of Zoo
Veterinarians representation on the House Advisory Panel. The measure recognizes
zoo veterinarians as "important members of the profession," even though the AAZV
cannot gain a seat in the House of Delegates as a constituent-allied veterinary
organization because about 20 percent of its nearly 1,000 members live outside
the U.S. and are not members of the AVMA. The AVMA policy requires 90 percent
for constituent organizations.

•The House of Delegates referred Resolution 3 to the AVMA executive board. The
measure recommends that the board convene a "multidisciplinary entity" to
clarify the veterinarian's role in the judicious use of antimicrobials.
Jointly submitted by the Washington state and New Jersey veterinary medical
associations and the Association of Avian Veterinarians, Resolution 3 would
remove the clause "when under the direction of a veterinarian" from the existing
sentence "Judicious use of antimicrobials, when under the direction of a
veterinarian, should meet all requirements of a veterinarian-client-patient
relationship."

The rationale for the revision is that veterinarians should always be the
decision-makers regarding the judicious use of antimicrobials and that the
clause in question clouded the issue.