Home > Advocacy > News >  HSVMA Launches Campaign on Cosmetic and Convenience Surgeries

February 9, 2009

The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association has launched a new outreach effort focused on the issue of cosmetic and convenience surgeries in companion animals.

This campaign has been designed to help educate the public and provide tools to veterinary professionals who are opposed to these non-therapeutic procedures, which include ear cropping, tail docking, devocalization of cats and dogs, and declawing of cats.

	Cats can be trained to avoid destructive scratching.©iStock

Many veterinarians are already refusing to perform these procedures, as they are typically performed solely for the cosmetic preferences and convenience of the caregivers and provide no medical benefit to the animal.

However, the pressure does exist to perform these surgeries. Clinic policies, economic concerns and client demands—which may include the risk of pet relinquishment if the surgery is not performed—all factor in to this difficult decision for veterinarians.

HSVMA has developed the following activities and education tools designed to help veterinary professionals who are committed to taking a stand against cosmetic and convenience surgeries:

Support for proposed devocalization ban in Massachusetts

HSVMA is one of the leading organizations in a coalition working on a Massachusetts state bill to ban devocalization of dogs and cats. An Act Prohibiting Devocalization of Dogs and Cats would ban these procedures on a dog or cat unless deemed medically necessary to treat or relieve an illness, disease or injury or to correct a congenital abnormality. Read our devocalization fact sheet and contact your Massachusetts elected officials about supporting this bill.

Outreach to veterinary students

	A great dane with natural, not cropped, ears.©iStock

HSVMA is offering presentations at schools and urging students to consider and formulate their ethical positions on the issue of cosmetic and convenience surgeries prior to applying for jobs upon graduation.

Getting the word out

HSVMA has posters and flyers on cat declawing for veterinary clinics, animal shelters and humane societies. Contact us for more information.

Photo contest for dogs with natural ears

Thanks to everyone who submitted photos of their dogs for our "Natural Dog-Eared Contest". We have a lot of entries to go through and will be posting the winning results of the contest on our web site soon. Stay tuned!