VNJ Volume 41 (1) February 2026 | Page 26

24 Luescher AU. Canine behavioral development. In: Peterson ME, Kutzler MA.( eds.) Small Animal Pediatrics: The First 12 Months of Life. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. p. 97 – 103.
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26 Clay L, Paterson M, Bennett P, Perry G, Phillips C. Early recognition of behaviour problems in shelter dogs by monitoring them in their kennels after admission to a shelter. Animals. 2019; 9( 11): 875. Available from: https:// doi. org / 10.3390 / ani9110875.
27 Dwyer C. Scottish Animal Welfare Commission: Opinion on ear-cropping of dogs – letter of 9 April 2021 to Ben Macpherson MSP, Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment. Available from: https:// www. gov. scot / publications / scottish-animal-welfare- commission-opinion-on-ear-cropping-of-dogs---letter-of-9-april- 2021-to-minister / [ Accessed 14 November 2025 ].
28 The FOAL Group. Focus On Animal Law. Available from: https:// www. thefoalgroup. co. uk / [ Accessed 8 May 2023 ].
29 BVA. Huge win for animal welfare as government commits to working with # CutTheCrop Campaign. 2021. Available from: https:// www. bva. co. uk / news-and-blog / news-article / huge-win-foranimal-welfare-as-government-commits-to-working-withcutthecrop-campaign / [ Accessed 8 May 2023 ].
30 CVMA. Elective and non-therapeutic veterinary procedures for cosmetic or competitive purposes( formerly cosmetic alteration). 2020. Available from: https:// www. canadianveterinarians. net / policyand-outreach / position-statements / statements / elective-and-nontherapeutic-veterinary-procedures-for-cosmetic-or-competitivepurposes-formerly-cosmetic-alteration / [ Accessed 10 May 2023 ].
31 AVA. Cosmetic surgery to alter the natural appearance of animals. 2018. Available from: https:// www. ava. com. au / policy-advocacy / policies / surgical-medical-and-other-veterinary-proceduresgeneral / cosmetic-surgery-to-alter-the-natural-appearance-ofanimals / [ Accessed 10 May 2023 ].
32 AVMA. Ear cropping and tail docking of dogs. 2024. Available from: https:// www. avma. org / resources-tools / avma-policies / earcropping-and-tail-docking-dogs [ Accessed 27 November 2025 ].
33 The Kennel Club. Ear cropping. Available from: https:// www. thekennelclub. org. uk / about-us / campaigns / ear-cropping / [ Accessed 11 May 2023 ].
34 The Kennel Club. Dobermann from West Sussex wins place in Best in Show final 2023. Available from: https:// www. royalkennelclub. com / about-us / resources / media-centre / 2023 / march / dobermannfrom-west-sussex-wins-place-in-best-in-show-final / [ Accessed 10 May 2023 ].
35 AKC Communications. AKC Statement on AVMA Crop and Dock Policy. 2008. Available from: https:// www. akc. org / press-releases / akcstatement-on-avma-crop-and-dock-policy / [ Accessed 11 May 2023 ].
36 Westminster Kennel Club. About us: The Westminster Kennel Club. 2022. Available from: https:// www. westminsterkennelclub. org / about-wkc [ Accessed 11 May 2023 ].
37 Mata W. Westminster Kennel Club dog show: all this year ' s adorable winners. The Standard. 2023. Available from: https:// www. standard. co. uk / news / world / westminster-kennel-club-dog-show- 2023-winners-list-b1080004. html [ Accessed 11 May 2023 ].
38 Kavin K. Want your dog to win at Westminster? You might need to cut off its ears or tail. The Washington Post. 2019. Available from: https:// www. washingtonpost. com / science / 2019 / 02 / 11 / want-yourdog-win-westminster-you-might-need-cut-off-its-ears-or-tail / [ Accessed 11 May 2023 ].
39 Animal Protection Index. Mexico. Available from: https:// api. worldanimalprotection. org / country / mexico [ Accessed 1 June 2023 ].
40 European Society of Dog and Animal Welfare( ESDAW). European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals. 1987. Available from: https:// www. esdaw. eu / european-convention-for-the-protectionof-pet-animals. html [ Accessed 16 May 2023 ].
41 Sinmez CC, Yigit A, Aslim G. Tail docking and ear cropping in dogs: a short review of laws and welfare aspects in the Europe and Turkey. Italian Journal of Animal Science. 2017; 16( 3): 431 – 437. Available from: https:// doi. org / 10.1080 / 1828051X. 2017.1291284.
42 Velasco MT. Law 7 / 2023 on Animal Protection and Welfare. 2023. Available from: https:// www. velascolawyers. com / en / articles-andpublications / law-7-2023-on-animal-protection-and-welfare. html [ Accessed 30 November 2025 ].
43 Johnson J. Dogs, Cats, and Their People: The Place of the Family Pet and Attitudes about Pet Keeping. MA Thesis. University of Waterloo; 2009. Available from: https:// uwspace. uwaterloo. ca / bitstreams / d3417e9b-7c4c-4307-8b0f-2b3664de7161 / download [ Accessed 14 November 2025 ].
44 Hargreaves R. Tackling the ear cropping trend. Vet Record. 2021; 188( 10): 399. Available from: https:// doi. org / 10.1002 / vetr. 545.
45 McCauley J. Joey Essex returns Doberman puppy after social backlash over its cropped ears. PetsRadar. 2022. Available from: https:// www. petsradar. com / news / joey-essex-doberman-dogcropped-ears [ Accessed 23 May 2023 ].
46 Norris LJ, Pinchbeck GL, Noble PJM, Radford AD. Dogs with cropped ears in the UK: a population-based study using electronic health records. Vet Record. 2023; 192( 5): e2483. Available from: https:// doi. org / 10.1002 / vetr. 2483.
47 Waters A. Polite messaging will no longer cut it. Vet Record. 2019; 184( 16): 489. Available from: https:// doi. org / 10.1136 / vr. l1812.
48 BVA. British Veterinary Association responds to news Government is not progressing the Kept Animals Bill. 2023. Available from: https:// www. bva. co. uk / news-and-blog / news-article / british-veterinaryassociation-responds-to-news-government-is-not-progressingthe-kept-animals-bill / [ Accessed 1 June 2023 ].
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51 BVA. Major UK retailers remove ear cropping kits from sale after vet pushback. 2022. Available from: https:// www. bva. co. uk / newsand-blog / news-article / major-uk-retailers-remove-ear-croppingkits-from-sale-after-vet-pushback / [ Accessed 24 May 2023 ].
52 Brugman A. Dealing with a dog with cropped ears: how to discuss this issue with a client. In Practice. 2022; 44( 1): 61 – 62. Available from: https:// doi. org / 10.1002 / inpr. 170.
53 RCVS. Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons. Available from: https:// www. rcvs. org. uk / setting-standards / adviceand-guidance / code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinarysurgeons / [ Accessed 25 May 2023 ].
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56 SSPCA. Contact Us. Available from: https:// www. scottishspca. org / contact / [ Accessed 30 November 2025 ].
57 RSPCA. Contact Us. Available from: https:// www. rspca. org. uk / utilities / contactus [ Accessed 30 November 2025 ].
26 Veterinary Nursing Journal