Animal procedures and the law

Surgically trimming the ear flaps so they stand erect: Doberman, Boxer, Great Dane, Cane Corso. Banned in much of Europe, the UK and Australia.

Removing part of the tail of a dog or horse. In dogs often done to puppies a few days old; banned or limited to working-dog exemptions in many countries.

Removing the front or rear dewclaws, usually in young puppies.

Removing the comb and wattles, a tradition in game fowl.

Cutting the tail muscles so a horse carries its tail high.

Shortening the tails of lambs or piglets to prevent flystrike or tail biting, usually with an age limit and a method rule.

Destroying the horn buds of calves or kids before the horns grow, usually by cautery.

Removing grown horns.

Shortening the upper beak of poultry to reduce feather pecking.

Clipping or grinding the needle teeth of piglets.

Removing strips of skin around the breech of Merino lambs to prevent flystrike.

Removing or trimming a cock's spurs.

Fitting a ring through the nose of a bull for handling, or a pig to stop rooting.

A mark burnt into the skin.

A mark made with a supercooled iron, which grows back white.

Amputating the last bone of each toe to remove the claws. Banned in many countries and in several US and Canadian jurisdictions.

Cutting the vocal folds to quieten barking or meowing.

Removing the wing tip so a bird can never fly.