Ear cropping, tail docking rules get thumbs up from P.E.I. dog breeder

Rules in P.E.I.'s new Animal Welfare Act that make the cutting of a dogs' ears or tail illegal is "the best thing that's happened in a long time," says P.E.I. dog breeder Diane Ykelenstam.

The new act, adopted by the P.E.I. Legislature in July, outlaw the practice of ear cropping and tail docking of dogs, horses and cattle.

• Animal Welfare Act outlaws animal ear cropping and tail docking
• Animal Welfare Act passed in P.E.I. legislature

"So, when it becomes illegal, it becomes an offence and people are going to think twice before they cut healthy body parts off their dogs," said Ykelenstam, who breeds and shows miniature schnauzers with her husband Barry.

Although she has never cropped ears, Ykelenstam said in 2004 she received a request from two breeders in Europe who wanted what she calls "natural tails." For the first time, she didn't dock the puppy's tails to accommodate the overseas breeders.

She said she seriously questioned what she was doing when she was raising that particular litter but after that, she started trying to convince buyers to keep the tails. For a couple of years, she allowed her clients to choose what they wanted.

"And then in 2007 we absolutely stopped."

Good for business

Ykelenstam said it's 50-50 as to whether it will put P.E.I. breeders at a disadvantage when showing their dogs.

But, she added, one of her dogs has reached championship level with intact ears and tail. In fact, he beat out his father — the number-one miniature Schnauzer in the country, that had cropped ears and a docked tail — for the win.

She said breed clubs, judges and competitors are beginning to change their opinion on the practice.

"Those that haven't are pretty much going to have to catch up pretty quickly because the general consensus is this is what is best for the dogs and that the standards that haven't already been changed, do need to be changed."

It was the best move she could have made for her business, said Ykelenstam.

"I have had people buy puppies from all over the U.S., right from Newfoundland to B.C. in Canada and, as I said, overseas, because people specifically want a healthy dog with healthy body parts intact and they couldn't convince other breeders to keep tails on," she said.

"Breeders wouldn't do it for them, so I ended up having the very best homes wanting my puppies more so than ever before."

Veterinarians on P.E.I. have not been able to perform the procedures for five years.

The new regulations will be in place early next year.