Several cosmetic surgeries for pets have been banned in Quebec

A sweeping update to Quebec's pet regulations came into force in the province on Saturday, banning four cosmetic surgeries and setting new standards for the care of several species of mammals.

While Quebec's veterinarians' order previously banned the removal of vocal cords, ear clipping, tail docking and cat docking, the new regulation formally bans procedures for aesthetic purposes.

For Aleksandra Jaksic, this event is the culmination of many years of advocacy. A contract veterinary nurse authored a 2022 petition that garnered more than 21,600 signatures and prompted the province to say it was considering creating a new rule.

“It's a great feeling,” Jaksic said in a phone interview Saturday. “When I think about the scope and scale of this, we're talking about millions of animals that will never have to endure unnecessary suffering.”

The regulation formalizes a widespread reluctance to practice among professionals, said Gaston Rio, president of the Ordre des Médecins Vétérinaires du Quebec.

“This movement is not unique to Quebec,” he said in an interview. “All over the world, this is a prohibited and prohibited type of operation.”

Ontario is currently the only province in Canada that does not have a ban on cat culling.

Rio and her predecessor, Caroline Kilsdonk, said the four nonessential procedures expose animals to the risks associated with surgery and can lead to behavioral problems.

Removing a dog's vocal cords to stop a dog from barking, for example, “is very inhumane because if the dog is barking excessively, there may be an anxiety or boredom problem,” Kilsdonk explained.

“We are only dealing with the symptom, not the cause of the problem,” he said.

According to Giroux, about one-third of cats who undergo declawing — the equivalent of removing a human fingertip — show behavioral problems or aggression.

The Quebec regulation still allows veterinarians to offer surgeries for medical therapeutic purposes and makes an exception for the ear cropping of stray cats in authorized capture, sterilization and release programs.

Other provisions of the regulations include bans on euthanasia by inhalation, tying an animal without a collar, mating animals of mismatched sizes and feeding meat to pigs.

While Jaksic welcomed the new rules, he said Quebec needs to do more to streamline the process of prosecuting irresponsible ranchers and reporting them to authorities. He also hopes the Quebec rule will put pressure on Ontario to introduce new measures to protect pets.

As for her future, Jaksic said her experience in animal welfare inspired her to go to law school.

“I see how much room there is for improvement,” he said. “I hope I can really add something and help more animals through legislation.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 10, 2024.