The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has long opposed the cropping of dogs' ears. It is illegal in the UK to crop dogs' ears so you won't see any in a dog show. The BVA is also strongly opposed to tail docking except as a necessary surgical amputation for a tail that is gangrenous or has been crushed. Dogs need their tails not only for balance but more especially for communication. They use their tails to express their social status and various emotions. Tail docking can often lead to what is called an amputation neuroma. This is an inflammation of the nerves in the tail that can drive dogs crazy so they are constantly chasing and chewing their tails, which eventually need to be amputated again.

In the U.S. you can see more and more show dogs like dobermans and schnauzers with their tails intact and with uncropped ears. In fact, the American Veterinary Medical Association has spoken out against ear cropping though some veterinarians still do it. The main argument against it is that ear cropping is a form of mutilation without any medical benefit. It is therefore regarded as a professionally unethical and unacceptable surgical procedure. The American Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights have campaigned nation-wide to discourage dog breeders, owners and especially dog show people from having their dogs' ears cropped. Along with tail docking, cropped ears should be eliminated as a "standard" for any breed.

It is a very painful operation for puppies and it often goes wrong so the ears have to be splinted and taped for weeks. Infections are common, especially in hot and humid weather. And that means more suffering. All to what end?

There is ample evidence that dogs who have been traumatized by ear cropping during their sensitive period around 8-10 weeks tend to be head-shy or touch-shy later in life, more so if they developed painful ear infections. In my mind this mutilation is as unacceptable as giving guard dogs a permanent snarl by surgically removing part of their upper lips on each side of the muzzle. A veterinarian once did this for a company in New York City that rented out dobermans to protect private property. If you think that is cruel and unethical, then you must also feel the same way about ear cropping. It makes dogs look more threatening to other dogs, just like a permanent snarl.

No dog benefits from having cropped ears. It is done just for human vanity, a twisted aesthetics that has no place in a civilized society and surely no place in a dog show where compassion should be evident, as well as respect for our canine companions. Such surgical mutilation is a blatant example of human selfishness, lack of compassion and exemplifies how we are craven to the latest fads and fashions. India should be the last place to see a purebred dog with cropped tail and ears. Why mimic the shallow trends and values of the West and sacrifice India's long traditions of ahimsa and reverential respect for all life? All to what end, but vanity. Dogs should not be the victims of such selfish ends.

I strongly urge all dog show judges and dog show participants to prohibit tail docking and ear cropping by making it impossible to show any dog that has been so mutilated after a given date. Dogs born before this date and having had their tails and ears cropped prior to this date would still be eligible for entry into a dog show. This way these unnecessary mutilations would be gradually phased out.

There are other problems with purebred dogs that raise the hackles of humanitarians and to ignore them is to use these dogs as mirrors of our own insensitivity. For example, the BVA moved to prohibit the breeding of Sharpeis (shown on the cover of Pet India, Feb. 1996) because their skin-folds lead to chronic infections, especially in hot and humid climates. They are prone to develop eye problems because they are afflicted with entropion - turned in eyelids. This disorder can cause blindness if not corrected surgically, but then people want to breed the dogs and so the inherited disorder is passed on to the offspring.

There are other breeds that won't do well in most parts of India, like the British Bull dog, who is prone to heat stress and heat stroke because he can't breathe properly, even on good days. The pushed in muzzle and long soft palate make breathing difficult. A negative pressure may develop such that the dog's windpipe collapses. Pekingese and Boxers can suffer a similar fate - chronic partial asphyxia.

Other dog breeds not suitable for tropical places and seasons are Cocker Spaniels with such pendulous ears that never dry out so they become chronically infected. Northern breeds like Huskies and Keeshunds likewise do poorly in hot and humid environments like Miami, Florida; and Madras, India.

In fact, most pure-breeds of European origin take generations to acclimate to such climates. And many mutant breeds like Sharpeis, Bulldogs, and Cocker Spaniels never will. I have seen some sad and sorry specimens in countries like Jamaica and Kenya, as well as India, where owners have imported them from Europe and North America.

Unlike local pariah dogs and indigenous breeds, they have little or no resistance to parasitic and infectious diseases. Chronic skin problems and immune system breakdown are all too common.

The sensible thing to do is for India's pure-bred dog enthusiasts to focus their interests more on recognizing and developing indigenous breeds, many of which are rare if not in danger of extinction. It is unwise to bring in new breeding stock of European breeds because they aren't adapted to the Indian environment. But this may be thought justifiable in order to help prevent inbreeding problems in the small gene-pool of these breeds in India. This is a "catch 22" situation and the solution, I believe, is to place greater emphasis on the value and virtues of indigenous breeds, and especially to have dog shows for young people to show their competence as handlers; and more obedience trials that are open to mixed-breeds and pariah dogs.

Dogs mirror some of the best and worst qualities of the human species. "Like master, like dog" is a truism worthy of our contemplation. When we honestly and impartially look at how we value and treat them, and why, we may ultimately rise to their level of dignity and integrity. What we do to dogs is indeed a reflection of our humanity, individually and culturally. We may or may not like what we see. But when we begin to see through the dogs' eyes and put ourselves in their place - and don't do to them what we would not have them do to us - we might be more worthy of their fidelity and devotion.