Much ado about….notching!

Hello everyone,

On 9th April 2011, I wrote this: http://animalcare.my/2011/04/should-we-tip-ears-of-all-spayed.html

My intention was to seek your opinion on how you felt about tipping the ear of the female animal to indicate that she has been spayed.

This was in light of Cocker’s case.  Cocker was a found pet.  She was rescued by Jovi and after failing to find her owner, Jovi decided to send Cocker to be spayed under our sponsorship before putting her up for adoption. 

The vet took more than half an hour to look for the uterus.  The initial 1-inch incision had to be increased to 2-inches.  Extended anaesthesia had to be administered.  Finally, the vet decided Cocker had already been spayed.  

When the vet called me (this vet seldom called me and when he did, it was usually very bad news), I was really worried if something bad had happened during the surgery.  Fortunately, no.  It was to tell me that Cocker had already been previously spayed and the surgery had been unnecessary.  My first response was to ask if Cocker was alright.  She was. 

Coincidentally, one of our panel clinics had been bought over by a new management and the new owner-vet has been practising V-notching of the right ear of all female rescued/stray animals on the rescue rate at his own clinic.  He has now also implemented the same policy in this clinic which is one of our first panel clinics and has helped us with so many rescued animals on a charity rate, especially the very difficult cases, including the many Klang dogs and Selayang puppies. 

When I first started AnimalCare two years ago, my friends who are far more experienced in this field had already strongly advised me to implement ear-tipping as that is the updated and accepted practice in various communities.  I did, albeit reluctantly.  I was reluctant because I was concerned about the animals’ chances of being rehomed.  I also did not wish to subject the animal to any additional risks (in having the ear tipped or notched, although the vet assured me it was a simple and safe procedure).  The ear-tipping implementation died off very quickly after that.  We decided we’d just leave the ears un-tipped since I did not see the necessity at that point in time. 

My discussions with the government authorities on sparing the lives of tipped-ear community animals were met with the usual “we shall look into it” reply.  The pound authorities were also not willing to spare the life of any tipped-ear animal.

So I really did not see any need to implement it then.

However, two of our clinics (one in Sri Petaling and another in Melawati) have already been tipping the ears of both male and female animals all this while.  No one seemed to have complained.  One of my friends and her team have been practising this ear-tipping for many years too.  None of their adopters had ever complained.  

Now, both our Subang Jaya vets and one in Klang agree on the need to implement this.  For one of the clinics, it is their new clinic policy. 

I have written this many times and I will write it again (hopefully, for the last time).  I am seeking the goodwill of our panel vets to provide us with this rescue rate so that whatever little funds we have can be stretched further to help more animals and their rescuers. 

I choose to respect the decision of the vets. 

I am very grateful to the vets. 

But I also respect your decision and views and that is why I put this to a vote on 9th April.

Your votes came in unanimous – 7 comments and several emails saying we should tip the ears. 

So, on 12th April, I wrote this: http://animalcare.my/2011/04/decision-to-tip-ears-of-all-female.html

That’s when one person expressed her objection. 

The rest is history.  If you are interested in her comments, please read the relevant postings. 

When her first query came in, I called our vet immediately and asked for a clarification on why he preferred the V-notch and not the flat tip.  
Please see this:  http://animalcare.my/2011/04/flat-tip-or-v-notch.html 

The vet explained that the V-notch would be more prominent and this would remove all doubts which in turn gives greater assurance on whether the animal has been spayed or not.  He also said that in previous cases, there were times when the fur had grown over the flat tip so even the vet had doubts as to whether the tip was there or not.  It is for this reason that this clinic (and its parent-clinic) implement the V-notch.  The vets’ primary concern is for the wellbeing and safety of the animal.

The decision to tip or notch the ear of the female animals (or even the male animals) is not solely mine but our vets’ and from the few people who had collectively cast their votes.  It is a collective decision, garnered, for want of a better word, in a “democratic” way. 

Please remember that it was put to a vote on 9th April where your opinions were sought and valued.  Please also remember that when one anonymous person objected strongly to the V-notch, I sought clarification from the vet.  But that was only because I thought her intentions were wholesome.  Subsequent comments by her (and her other pseudonyms) clearly revealed otherwise.  

For those who are still unhappy over this decision but yet still wish to use our funds, I am sure it is possible for you to politely explain your needs to the vet(s) concerned when you bring in your cats and dogs, and ask if your specific request can be accommodated. 

Whether it is a V-notch or a flat tip, I would leave that to the vet. 

I hope this clarifies the matter once and for all.

By the way, it would be more proper if commenters could kindy use their real names when putting in comments and not hide behind a cloak of anonymity or a pseudonym.  That way, I could at least respond to you, perhaps privately, so that I can further understand why you are so unhappy. 

I trust we are all adults, all with the same intention of doing what’s best for the animals, so any unhappiness can surely be discussed in a civil manner without having the resort to cynicism and unnecessary insolence.  To disagree, one doesn’t have to be disagreeable or even unpleasant.  

This blog has been receiving very constructive comments in the last two years.  Everyone has been doing his/her part in contributing ideas and opinions, and sharing knowledge for the betterment of the animals.  

I hope it can continue in that spirit.  

To everyone who sees a positive way forward, I thank you.

Shall we put this very unpleasant issue behind us now and move on? 
A little wiser, perhaps? 
We have animals to help. 

P.S.  Thank you very much for everyone’s comments and interest in this issue.  I will not be publishing any further comments on the related postings. 

 

Is man a savage at heart, skinned o’er with fragile Manners? 
Or is savagery but a faint taint in the natural man’s gentility,
which erupts now and again like pimples on an angel’s arse? 
~John Barth, The Sot-Weed Factor, 1960