An announcement from one of our panel vets

One of our panel clinics have been taken over by a new management recently.  We are grateful that the new management is happy to carry on helping us with our CNRM cases.  However, there is now a new ruling.

All female cats and dogs that undergo spaying will have their ear notched.  This means a “V” will be notched on one of their ears to indicate that this is a community animal who has been spayed. 

This is actually good practice and we had wanted to do this initially, but we didn’t see the point of insisting upon it for three reasons:

1.  Some of these rescued animals are already adopted and their new owners may not like a notched ear. 

2.  Some of these spayed rescued animals are up for adoption and a notched-ear might reduce their chances of being adoped. 

3.  The purpose of the notched ear in other countries is to indicate that the female animal has been spayed (for males, it is not necessary as it can be clearly seen that the testicles are missing).  If such an animal is returned to the colony, the pound authorities cannot capture and impound them anymore.  Even if captured, they have to be released since they have been spayed.  Unfortunately, we have talked to our local authorities and they have yet to agree on working with us on this. 

But anyway, we have no choice now.  Our panel vet is insisting that the ear of the female animal be notched and we will abide by this ruling. 

Please be informed.  If you are not agreeable to this, I’m afraid you’d have to get your female animal spayed elsewhere.  We’ll still do the males for you, of course. 

Please also note that in some countries, even pets have their ears notched.  This is because sometimes pets do roam and if captured, at least they will be released.  It’s for the cats’ safety, really.  The other reason is so that the female animal will not have to be opened up twice, subjecting her to unnecessary hazard. 

It is for a good reason that this is done.