# Massachusetts man charged with animal cruelty for cutting off puppy's ears. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 15, 2006, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773 "2006-08-15T03:59:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/1 "2006-08-15T03:59:21Z")
Okay, with a name like “wolf\_meister” I am partial to my canine cousins but GEEZ this guy is one sick uncaring bastard. > [@](#): > > Luis Negron, 20, of 142 Concord St. was arrested Sunday afternoon after police officers saw a set of dog ears on an empty beer case in the backyard that was allegedly used as the operating table, police said. > \ > Police said individuals sometimes cut the ears off dogs to make them appear more intimidating. Although not mentioned in this story, I’ve heard it mentioned that another reason for removing the ears is preparing dogs for illegal “dog-fighting”. What an asshole !!! :mad: If alien abductions were for real, I nominate _this_ guy to be their next abductee and they can keep him for as long as they like. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/2 "2006-08-15T04:02:25Z")
That happened here in Columbus, also, but they never caught the asshole who did it. Apparently he had hit the dog, too, and her sight was damaged - so he just threw her out. The vet I used to work for no longer does ear crops, but when he did at least he used anesthetic! I wish I believed in Hell when I read about shit like this. ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/3 "2006-08-15T04:27:06Z")
He cropped a dog’s ears without anesthesia. How old was it? Was it the normal age for getting it done? Boars are made into barrows, roosters into capons, bulls into steers, and stallions into gieldings all the time without anesthesia. The ears of pigs and cows are notched without it. I know that this is a pet, but is tail docking and ear cropping universally done with or without anesthesia? It seems like such a common, ancient tradition that surely doing it under anethesia is something that came about fairly recently and may not be widely practiced. ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/4 "2006-08-15T04:29:47Z")
I’m sure its considered practicing veterinary medicine without a license at least. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/5 "2006-08-15T04:31:46Z")
[QUOTE=Unregistered Bull] He cropped a dog’s ears without anesthesia. How old was it? Was it the normal age for getting it done? Boars are made into barrows, roosters into capons, bulls into steers, and stallions into gieldings all the time without anesthesia. The ears of pigs and cows are notched without it. I know that this is a pet, but is tail docking and ear cropping universally done with or without anesthesia? It seems like such a common, ancient tradition that surely doing it under anethesia is something that came about fairly recently and may not be widely practiced. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but even if it’s routinely done without anesthesia, it’s also done in a steril environment by a professional-not in some guy’s backyard on a freaking BEER CASE. Look, **Unregistered Bull** , I know you’re not one for animals, and that’s fine-not everyone is. But you have to admit, this doesn’t sound like such a hot idea. ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/6 "2006-08-15T04:38:58Z")
Sterile environment? No. Trained and qualified person doing it (or at least supervising)? Yes. That’s what the difference is. ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/7 "2006-08-15T04:40:30Z")
[QUOTE=Guinastasia] Yeah, but even if it’s routinely done without anesthesia, it’s also done in a steril environment by a professional-not in some guy’s backyard on a freaking BEER CASE. Look, **Unregistered Bull** , I know you’re not one for animals, and that’s fine-not everyone is. But you have to admit, this doesn’t sound like such a hot idea. [/QUOTE] Is it? All over the world? Combs and wattles of roosters aren’t trimmed in a sterile enviroment (vet’s office), nor is removing the testicles of livestock, nor the notching of ears. This seems weird yeah. But I really don’t know if it is that weird outside of the animal rights mindset. There is too little information presented. ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/8 "2006-08-15T04:42:18Z")
[QUOTE=hawksgirl] Sterile environment? No. Trained and qualified person doing it (or at least supervising)? Yes. That’s what the difference is. [/QUOTE] This guy might have known what he was doing. There is nothing in the OP that says that he didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/9 "2006-08-15T04:48:12Z")
[QUOTE=Unregistered Bull] This guy might have known what he was doing. There is nothing in the OP that says that he didn’t. [/QUOTE] Granted, but where did he learn it? It’s not the kind of thing that a lot of people just know. Castrations and the like on the farm are taught by people who know what they are doing, make sure the learner knows thoroughly before they try it, and they know how to detect a problem and get adequate care. But where does a guy learn to remove dogs’ ears? (not snotty, just a little curious) ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/10 "2006-08-15T05:26:52Z")
[QUOTE=hawksgirl] But where does a guy learn to remove dogs’ ears? [/QUOTE] I imagine the same way. By watching, learning, and doing. Of course this guy could have not known what he was doing and botched the procedure. But with the information given, we don’t know that. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/11 "2006-08-15T05:33:33Z")
[QUOTE=Unregistered Bull] Is it? All over the world? Combs and wattles of roosters aren’t trimmed in a sterile enviroment (vet’s office), nor is removing the testicles of livestock, nor the notching of ears. This seems weird yeah. But I really don’t know if it is that weird outside of the animal rights mindset. There is too little information presented. [/QUOTE] Just to clarify–this will help me understand your ravings. Do you believe that the overwhelming majority of Americans adhere to the “animal rights mindset”? Daniel ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/12 "2006-08-15T05:37:26Z")
I think he (like many people) neglect to distinct between “animal rights” (animal=person) and “animal welfare” (animals deserve to be cared for according to certain standards). I could be wrong; I don’t speak for the Bull. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/13 "2006-08-15T05:45:41Z")
[QUOTE=Unregistered Bull] I imagine the same way. By watching, learning, and doing. Of course this guy could have not known what he was doing and botched the procedure. But with the information given, we don’t know that. [/QUOTE] Oh for crissakes, the guy used a freaking BEER CASE as an operating table, and he did it in his backyard! Even I know that’s not a sterile environment. Jesus, not everyone who thinks animals shouldn’t be abused is some PETA nutfreak. ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/14 "2006-08-15T06:04:12Z")
Sterility is not a requirement when you’re talking larger animals though. I helped castrate and dock tails for piglets and lambs. \* There were foot-long lamb tails all over the dirt floor of the barn we were doing it in. There were flies everywhere and the lamb had a bit of its own feces on itself (as animals tend to do).\* And this was for an approved University class, not some hick experimenting. That’s how its done in the field every day. So the real problem is whether its different for a sheep than a dog. I don’t know. And if it isn’t, then the animal industry has a lot of change to do when we figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/15 "2006-08-15T10:09:55Z")
“My dog has no ears! -How does it hear? Terrible!” Naah, it’s just not as funny. But seriously - people cut the ears\* right off\*? I can _sort of_ understand a little trimming or pointing, I guess, but I can’t think of a good reason for lopping a dog’s ears right off. Given that dogs are more aural than us, that seems excessively cruel. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/16 "2006-08-15T11:17:39Z")
They showed the poor pup on the news. A couple of points: 1. He didn’t crop the ears, he cut them right off. 2. The cuts were ragged and uneven. So he went beyond the usual operation, and didn’t know what he was doing. This is a clear case of animal cruelty. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/17 "2006-08-15T11:51:25Z")
[QUOTE=Unregistered Bull] This guy might have known what he was doing. There is nothing in the OP that says that he didn’t. [/QUOTE] The part where he was arrested might be a clue. ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/18 "2006-08-15T13:45:33Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] Just to clarify–this will help me understand your ravings. Do you believe that the overwhelming majority of Americans adhere to the “animal rights mindset”? Daniel [/QUOTE] I think that it is becoming more and more pervasive in our society as it becomes more and more urbanized. And the only ravings in this thread are from those with an animal rights mindset. ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/19 "2006-08-15T13:51:12Z")
[QUOTE=Menocchio] They showed the poor pup on the news. A couple of points: 1. He didn’t crop the ears, he cut them right off. 2. The cuts were ragged and uneven. So he went beyond the usual operation, and didn’t know what he was doing. This is a clear case of animal cruelty. [/QUOTE] Well then, he shouldn’t have done it. And he shouldn’t do it again. I don’t know about animal cruelty though. Did he do this to intentionally inflict pain for his jollies or to simply conform the dog to what many might consider its appropriate look. ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773/20 "2006-08-15T13:53:59Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] The part where he was arrested might be a clue. [/QUOTE] Given the location and the fact the animal rights mindset is so pervasive there, it provides no clue except to those that adhere at least in some part to the animal rights mindset. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massachusetts-man-charged-with-animal-cruelty-for-cutting-off-puppys-ears/368773.md?page=2)