Cruelty To Animals
That some pet owners weren’t completely sane was something I already knew, but that a part of those owners go as far as unnecessary plastic surgery for their pets is something completely new to me.
Those who know me, know that I love documentaries on all kinds of subjects. This season we have a documentary at 11 PM every week day on a certain channel. Yesterday they followed some pet owners while they put their pets through plastic surgery. Most of what I saw appalled me.
The documentary started off with a couple that bought two pit bull puppies. According to them the dogs didn’t look like real pit bulls without their ears cropped. So away they went to get heathy puppies some plastic surgery. The full anesthesia by itself is already a risk, no matter how young or old the animal is (or humans for that matter) so that’s a first risk, and then there is infections to the ears , or rather the parts left after amputating most of the ears. This might sound harsh but that’s what it comes down to, amputating ears. And for what? Because they think it looks nicer, it’s only for appearance. So the owner can walk around with it showing off his dog. It’s sickening, that’s not showing love for your animal; that’s pure animal torture, in my eyes anyway.
Or how about two kittens getting declawed? Just because the owner (or rather, her mother) didn’t want them climbing on her precious (and that’s how she described it herself!) furniture and curtains. She described her house and interior as different and tasteful. No cat was going to ruin that. So off we go with two cats to get their nails pulled out.
If you put some time and effort in it you can teach cats not to climb furniture or curtains. Give them a scratch post to do their scratching on, buy a cat tower so they have something to climb on. But don’t take them to the vet to get them declawed for your own good. In more than 32 countries this procedure is illegal and / or considered cruelty to animals but not in the United States. Over 30 percent of all cats get declawed there, so owners don’t have to worry about their wonderful furniture.
I feel that every owner of a pet should read up on and inform themselves about the animal they like to have in their home. Make a list of all the positive things of having a pet as well as the negative. And surely there are some negative things about having animals; for instance what happens when you’re going on holiday. Can they come too? Do they need to go to a shelter? If these options aren’t possible is there anyone else in your surroundings you can count on to take care of them while you’re away? Most people don’t think of it but it’s extremely important before getting a pet.
The documentary also showed animals that really needed the plastic surgery; for example a dog with so many wrinkles in his face he couldn’t see anymore. That is something I completely understand. It’s done for the benefit of the dog, so for one he can see again and also because the skin won’t rub together anymore causing wounds and maybe infections.
As you can see I’m not against plastic surgery for animals; if it’s for the benefit of the animal. I’m totally against it and consider it animal cruelty if it’s done for the owners pleasure. Whether that’s taste preference (such as the ear cropping) or laziness and indolence. You get a pet because they will bring you joy and companionship. You should their their ‘flaws’ for granted.
Plugged: Crystena, Amanda, Sarah, Nan, Kelly, Tracy, Lils, Lonneke, Amber
15 Comments on "Cruelty To Animals"
Exactly and that includes climbing furniture, curtains and in your case, Christmas trees…
It infuriates me to know that people go about it so easily. ‘It’s only surgery and he’ll look better’ Urgh just thinking about it gets me going.
Do they give background checks to future pet owners? Because they should.
It’s just like taking care of a kid, except they will always depend on you and you can’t throw them out after 18 years.
Did you know that pulling a cat’s nails is similar to loosing about 2.5cm from your fingers?
It’s like that whole ‘a dog isn’t just for christmas, it’s for life’ campaign.
I just find that truly sickening…
We rescued my dog (who passed away last year) from an Animal Sanctuary – she’d been beaten and starved. I saw her, and fell in love straight away.
I often wonder what the world would be like if people were kind to animals – a much better one, thats for sure.
I’ve never heard of plastic surgery on animals until now. I know that sounds silly. I can accept it if it stops an animal from suffering or lengthens a life span, but not for purely cosmetic reasons. That’s just sick.
I wonder.. would people have a child of their own operated on if it didn’t quite look how they wanted to? “Oh, our child has a big nose! Let’s ring the surgeon.”
They should background checks for pets just as they do children. Not that the two are on the same level, I just mean you need to make sure the people are, well, sane before entrusting to them the care of an individual.
I left my dogs at my aunts place because we moved house and the two 3 month old puppies died and their mom died too. Neglect anyone? They were fine when we had them. Then this other time we left our dogs there, we came back a few months later and found out the neighbours ATE them one drunken night!! Can you believe that?
People are insane. I work as a Vet Tech and we don’t perform ear croppings. I hate it when cats come in fo declaws as well. In terms of our hands, it would be the equivalent to cutting all of our fingers off at the knuckles and making as walk on them.
It’s sickening that people would go to extreme lengths just to satisfy their own superficial wants. Here in my country, people raise dogs to have them slaughtered as part of drinking sprees. Disgusting.
I love watching documentaries of any kind as well. That’s the only thing that’s interesting in the tv nowadays, the rest is crap.
I could kill those kind of people. So damn selfish – it’s sick. I also don’t understand why the vets would do that though. Well, ok, I can understand – those rich people will pay any price to ruin their animal’s lifes.
Just sick!
OMG people still clip ears? My mother in law got a dog while she was in PA and it was one that was neglected. They had clipped its tail when it was a puppy because it was part beagle and they clipped it in the wrong place and its like 6 inches long instead of a bob, it looks funny. As for the comment above with the neighbors eating the dogs… did u just go out of town and leave them in the yard or something? I mean 3 months is a long time. As for the neighbors thats JUST SICK.
Oh and as for the declawing. I never knew it to be animal cruelity, its normal in the US. We declawed my moms cat, but he had something wrong with his ears and he scratched and scratched at them and made them bleed, so the vet said it was the best solution. He STILL will kill a friggin fullsize grund hog and drag it around the yard tho, classless and all.
Crystena, because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s right! They didn’t make it illegal in so many countries because it doesn’t do any harm to the animals.
See it like removing your fingers then walking on what’s left of your hands.
It’s disgusting how selfish people can get. I wasn’t aware of the fact that you could get a dog’s ears clipped, but after I read this I Googled it. You’re right, it’s all incredibly appalling. Do you remember the title of this documentary? I’d love to check it out.
I foolishly think humanity can’t get any worse and then I hear a story like this 
.
A pet isn’t like a statue that you can have in your home to show off to company. The owner has to accept ALL aspects of the pets, the good and the bad. Arg! It’s so frustrating to see that people still don’t get it.
Leave a comment
Before you post be aware that first-time commenters are moderated and anonymous comments will be deleted.
I saw that documentary a couple of months ago, and I totally agree. If an animal needs surgery then you worry so much, why would you put it through that for your own choice. It’s disgusting.
Declawing looks gross. I have 2 new kittens, and although they are into everything you know what they are like, and when you take on an animal then you have to take the good with the bad.