How a ban on tail docking has affected registrations

from the Working Group in the United Kingdom

The APPD is gravely concerned over the direction of the ‘bans’ implemented to date, as well as proposed bans in other Provinces. The organization and its members, who represent a wide variety of CKC recognized breeds, are also very concerned about the future of the canine fancy in Canada, as well as the future of the CKC as a result of these bans. 

These concerns are not based on opinion, but fact. As examples, research from the United Kingdom and other countries have clearly established what the future may hold with regards to the decimation of the purebred dog fancy in Canada, as well as the future health and existence of the CKC organization, including: 
    
- Changing the breed standards to add choice, removed choice altogether in the Europe. “Yet that so-called--- freedom of choice—the right to dock or not—claimed by breeders showed that docking was merely done for purely cosmetic reasons, a view put forward by the anti-docking alliance". From page 9, in the essay by David Delafenêtre titled "The Divided Kingdom" 

- By eliminating docked breeds from conformation shows, the decline in show registrations were devastating, across the board. Now clubs are forced to find other ways to make revenues and allow docked dogs to compete. A recent article in Our Dogs magazine states, "Windsor was shown to lose in entries, hypothetically, £3,156, Leeds, £3,444, and East of England £3,328." Please keep in mind that the CKC does not have to ban the showing of docked breeds. If the ban continues through Canada it will have the same effect.

- Massive declines in registrations in breeds traditionally docked or cropped in countries adopting bans. A staggering 83% of the losses were from previously docked or cropped breeds. Some breeds nearing endangered status in countries with bans. "There are currently 30 vulnerable breeds as well as the four dog types on the At Watch list," the Kennel Club said. It has been stated that although lifestyle and economics both play a part in these dogs' demise, it has more to do with animal rights pressure and veterinary empowerment than anything else.

In addition to these examples, of which there are many, our own Province of Newfoundland report that show entries and numbers of litters registered have both suffered a very clear and marked decline since bans were implemented. This indicates further evidence of what lies ahead for cropped and docked breeds, and likely, the entire canine fancy across Canada in the future. 
Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec still allow Veterinarians to perform these elective surgeries. The other Canadian Provinces have bans that only prevent members of their respective Veterinary Associations from performing cropping and docking procedures. Newfoundland was the first Province to introduced legislation to entirely prohibit elective surgeries to be performed. Today, any person found guilty of performing these surgeries can be criminally charged under the animal cruelty act of Newfoundland.