San Francisco panel wants ban on cosmetic surgery for pets

The San Francisco Commission of Animal Control and Welfare wants to end cosmetic surgery for animals, such as the cropped ears and bobbed tail that Katie, above, has undergone

May 22, 2000
Web posted at: 4:50 p.m. EDT (2050 GMT)

In this story: Supporters say short ears are clean ears 'An awful idea' RELATED STORIES, SITES

SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) -- Katie the Doberman has what many people consider a classic look for her breed -- a bobbed tail and cropped, upright ears.

"Katie's got her ears cropped for a Doberman, but she was that way when I got her," said Katie's owner, Shirley Habard.

If Habard sounds a bit defensive, it's because she lives in San Francisco. And the city's Commission of Animal Control and Welfare wants to end cosmetic surgery for pets, including ear cropping and tail bobbing.

	VIDEO
CNN's Greg Lefevre talks with people both for and against the measure. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

The commission passed a resolution on May 11 asking the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to ban the procedures because, while humans may choose to have cosmetic surgery, animals cannot.

"I would like to see breed groups love the way their animals look naturally, without their ears having to stand up or their tails or whatever," said Richard Schulke, who chairs the animal control panel.

Supporters say short ears are clean ears

Some supporters of docked tails and cropped ears argue the procedures correct problems created by dog breeders.

"Crop-eared dogs never get ear infections ... dogs with the floppy ears, that's a man-made thing," said professional dog handler Marj Brooks. "Those dogs are always fighting ear infections."

Dog owners aren't the only ones that would be affected by the proposed cosmetic surgery ban. The panel also voted to publish a pamphlet warning cat owners about the dangers of having their pets declawed.

"I did have a cat once and I declawed him and so I guess I'd be the enemy,' said Bob Sanders, who now owns two dogs.

'It's an awful idea'

Some pet owners say they dread another law regulating animal control in San Francisco.

"I think it's an awful idea," said pet owner Karen Ratto.

But San Francisco is a pet-friendly city.

"We have an extremely strong animal-loving, animal welfare community," said Schulke. "And when certain concepts come up, this community has been pretty supportive of them, no matter how crazy they are."

The commission also voted to discuss banning circus animals from performing in San Francisco. And last September, it passed a resolution asking the city to ban the term "pet owner" in city documents, objecting to the concept that pets were property of humans. The panel proposed that the term "pet guardian" be used instead.

The city hasn't ruled on the "pet guardian" recommendation, and Schulke said on Monday that no date has been set for voting on the cosmetic surgery ban.

San Francisco Bureau Chief Greg Lefevre contributed to this report.

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