After reading my post on ear-cropping and tail-docking, a visitor left the following comment (thank you!):

"AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (AVMA) states:
a) Ear Cropping and Tail Docking
Ear cropping and tail docking in dogs for cosmetic reasons are not medically indicated nor of benefit to the patient. These procedures cause pain and distress, and, as with all surgical procedures, are accompanied by inherent risks of anaesthesia, blood loss, and infection. Therefore, veterinarians should counsel dog owners about these matters before agreeing to perform these surgeries."

I decided to find out what the Canadian and British veterinary associations had to say on the topic. Here's what I found:

"The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) opposes surgical alteration of any animal, for purely cosmetic purposes."
Background
The CVMA believes that cosmetic surgery is unnecessary. Surgical alterations in cases of injury or for reasons of health are not considered cosmetic. Examples of cosmetic procedures include:
tail docking in the equine, bovine, or canine species; tail nicking/setting in the equine species; ear cropping in canine species; and onychectomy in species other than the domestic cat.The CVMA recommends that breed associations change their breed standards so that cosmetic procedures are not required."
(Onychectomy is the surgical removal of claws)

The British Veterinary Assocation says:
"From 6 April 2007 in England, and 28 March in Wales, the docking of dogs' tails has been banned except for certain working dogs or where the procedure is required for the purposes of medical treatment. The docking of dogs' tails has been banned in Scotland, without any exception for working dogs, under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 with effect from 30 April 2007. Advice from the RCVS is also available.
The BVA and BSAVA have been campaigning against the non-therapeutic docking of puppies’ tails since the sixties because they believe that it is not in the animal’s best interests. In fact:
there is good evidence to show that the act of docking causes pain; there is some evidence to show that pain in neonates is enhanced compared to adults; a dog’s tail is a vital form of canine expression and an important means of communication with other dogs and other species; the removal of the tail may induce or exacerbate other medical conditions such as incontinence and perineal hernia in bitches.A poster showing traditionally docked breeds with full tails has been re-designed by the BVA:AWF in association with the BVA, BSAVA, Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, PDSA, RSPCA and Wood Green Animal Shelters. The poster was mailed to all veterinary practices last year and further copies can be downloaded from the BVA:AWF website.

http://www.bva-awf.org.uk/resources/posters/BVA_AWF_tail_docking_poster.pdf"

By the way, the image included in this post is an ear clamp used as a template for cutting the dog's ear flap.