Social Question

NUNYA's avatar

Would you ever choose to get your dog or cat's ears pierced?

Asked by NUNYA (3207points) December 12th, 2009

People dress their pets up a lot these days. From sweaters and hats to painting their toe nails. But I wonder if anyone would ever or has ever seen or gotten their dog or cats ears pierced! And then possibly putting some real diamond studs or another precious jewel in their ears! What do you think?

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55 Answers

mclaugh's avatar

i think that dressing up animals is pretty stupid, so you can just guess at what my answer is about piercing an animal’s ears..what is wrong with people these days!!!

seekingwolf's avatar

That would serve absolutely no purpose. And I don’t want the animal to be in pain.
So no.

If I want something to get dressed up, it’s going to be me. Not my pet.

MacBean's avatar

Dressing animals up is just stupid and I often joke that it’s animal abuse. But I have a feeling that piercing their ears actually would be considered abuse. PETA, at least, would certainly have something to say about it.

stemnyjones's avatar

I think it’s ridiculous when people dress up their pets, except when it’s for the pet’s own good (chihuahuas or other small/short-haired dogs during a really cold winter, etc).

I can see how awesome my pitbull would look with diamond studs, but there are a few reasons why I wouldn’t do it:

1.) It would put her in unnecessary pain. Plus, she could easily rip it out with one of her paws by accident.

2.) It probably costs a fortune to get an animal’s ear pierced, and you’d be hardpressed to find a legitimate vet to do it for you.

3.) If I owned a pair of diamond studs, I’d wear them myself.

@MacBean – PETA complains about everything. to PETA, just owning an animal is wrong. But that’s off topic. ;)

MacBean's avatar

@stemnyjones: I know, that’s why I added that. XD

faye's avatar

No, because it’s owner vanity and risky if the piercing got caught on a bush or another claw.

casheroo's avatar

No. We didn’t even have our dogs ears cropped (he’s a min pin)
He does wear clothes though, sweaters in the winter time. He hates being cold and will start peeing and pooping in the house to avoid going out in the cold, so the sweaters actually serve a purpose. and he looks dashing in them!

PandoraBoxx's avatar

I’ve seen a few dyed poodles on the streets recently.

Facade's avatar

Sounds like animal cruelty to me. Inflicting pain on an animal for the sake of saying ‘look how cute! It has earrings!”? Completely idiotic.
Clothes and things, while unnecessary, are fine.

aprilsimnel's avatar

No! Dogs are not children! Or mannequins! Or Barbie dolls!

rangerr's avatar

It’s stupid, dangerous, cruel and a million other bad words.
Pets are NOT fashion accessories..
I’m all for sweaters. Our Jack Russels have bright orange/reflective sweaters they wear when it gets cold at the ranch…

Ivan's avatar

I don’t see any point to piercing your own ears, much less your dog’s.

Angels21fvryoung's avatar

i think it should never be done, but thats just what i think.

PretentiousArtist's avatar

That is not only stupid, but that is animal abuse

ragingloli's avatar

Animal abuse, that is what it is.

Jude's avatar

Anyone who does that to a pet needs to be shot.

janbb's avatar

WTF????

AnnieB's avatar

No…LOL!....No.

mellow_girl's avatar

never, unless my pet speaks english and says she wants it done, and i really dont see that happening at all. she prefers to speak her first language which is puppy…

gradyjones's avatar

I think I would just get the clamp-on earrings for my dogs and cats. Just kidding

There would never be any benefit to the pet for getting their ears peirced and it could be harmful if they were to get infected or snagged on something. I don’t see a need to personify an animal in any way.

Shatzee's avatar

No, I would not! Hi Nunya :) :) :) Hope you are doing well!

MacBean's avatar

On the subject of clothes on animals, I’d like to note that I don’t think putting a sweater on a cold pet is stupid. Also, this is okay, on Halloween. This and this, on the other hand, are never okay. And anyone who does this should just be slapped. Repeatedly. In the face. With spoiled salmon.

stemnyjones's avatar

@MacBean .. LOL @ the hot dog being okay.

gradyjones's avatar

@MacBean It’s only okay on a weenie dog, any other dog would look silly in that!

kewlguy_exABuser's avatar

I think that would just be utterly ridiculous and silly looking – anyway, who would want to take the risk of possible having the animal rip the earring out by getting it snagged on something.

Slick's avatar

No, I would not.lol NUNYA :-)

Strawberries's avatar

I dont think that will look right….

stemnyjones's avatar

@MacBean I agree. There’s a difference between hilarious and kinda retarded.

casheroo's avatar

@MacBean Oh my gosh, I totally married my cats when I was a little kid! I know I have pictures somewhere. Tigger and Buster were not happy campers. lol

stemnyjones's avatar

There are also dog-mitzvahs, if you weren’t aware. ;D

Taciturnu's avatar

Never. HI NUNYA!!!!! :)

janbb's avatar

@stemnyjones I think they’re called “bark-mitzvahs” in New York.

stemnyjones's avatar

@janbb Aah, my bad. I just remember seeing something about it on TV once and thinking it was ridiculous.

eternal_serenity's avatar

My uncle had his dog’s ear pierced
He was 17 when he had the dog and thought it would be “cool”
it looked really stupid

rooeytoo's avatar

I wouldn’t do it, although I do have my own ears pierced.

King Tut had his cat’s ears pierced, it did look pretty cool.

majorrich's avatar

If my maine coon gets any bigger I may have to get him tagged to prove he’s a cat. But his ears are real sensitive and he would scratch at it and it would get infected.. on second thought, no tagging nor piercing here.

MacBean's avatar

@casheroo: ”I totally married my cats when I was a little kid!

Forgivable. If you do it next week, though, I will be contacting your husband and recommending some kind of treatment. <3

bubblegum71's avatar

Hi Nunya!! I personally wouldn’t do it. + =)

casheroo's avatar

@MacBean Maybe I shouldn’t mention my pet halloween costume collection.

MacBean's avatar

@casheroo: Halloween is different! Also, I <3 you, so I’ll cut you a little slack. XD

jeffgoldblumsprivatefacilities's avatar

Piercing a cat or dogs ears is just wrong, nothing else to it.

randomness's avatar

No. That’s abuse. Body modifications should NEVER be done on a creature who cannot consent. Dogs and cats cannot consent to having holes poked into them, so I would never poke holes into my dog or cat.

Also, the animal would probably tear it out, resulting in a huge amount of damage.

rooeytoo's avatar

Almost all domestic farm animals have their ears pierced with identification tags. What’s the difference?

ragingloli's avatar

@rooeytoo
The tags don’t count. They are necessities. A shiny earring or piercing on the other paw, is the opposite of necessary.

rooeytoo's avatar

@ragingloll – So if piercing is considered to be abuse, you are saying abuse is acceptable if deemed necessary by those who consider it unacceptable under different circumstances?

Sounds hypocritical to me. Bet the cows wish someone would ask them if they want those nails put through their ears with no anesthesia!

ragingloli's avatar

Actually you’re right. It is still abuse. They should just use collars like for dogs and cats and put the tags on that. Of course this would be much more expensive, you would have to make differently sized versions because they have to be tagged from birth, and you have to change collars every now and then to replace them with bigger ones.
True, it should not be done, but the alternative is much more expensive and capitalism is all about money.

rooeytoo's avatar

@ragingloli – actually I am a realist and I know identification is important and it must be done, I would simply insist that the ear be swabbed with anesthesia (such as the dentist uses on your gum before you get the needle) before the tag is shot into the ear.

I also truly do not think that an ear stud on a dog or a cat is a big deal either. I am sure the average pet would rather be a pampered house pet with an earring than chained to a house in the back yard without an earring.

But no, none of my animals have ever been done. They are however microchipped and tattooed.

rooeytoo's avatar

Here in Australia, they tattoo their ears when they are out being de sexed. Then if you find a stray, you know if it has been neutered or not. Some tattoo a number on the belly for id purposes. These are dogs and cats I am speaking of.

stemnyjones's avatar

@rooeytoo That’s a great idea. Here in America they capture feral cats and desex them, and clip their ear, and that’s how you know – but it isn’t foolproof, because feral cats can very easily get an injury and tear their ear. It may not look like a clean cut, but who can get that close to feral cats?

NUNYA's avatar

@stemnyjones THAT is REALLY interesting! What a good idea!

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