An Appeal To All Feeders And Rescuers: Important: Please Ear-Notch Your Neutered Animals
AnimalCare 
May 21, 2013 
AnimalCare, NGOs 
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When we first started, we insisted that all neutered animals be ear-notched for identification (that the animal has already been neutered). Except for a small group who objected most violently (http://myanimalcare.org/2011/04/12/decision-to-tip-the-right-ear-of-all-female-animals/ - read the 17 comments), most of our readers agreed that it should be done.
Even way back in 2011, we already saw the need to ear-notch (or ear-tip) our neutered animals because we had encountered a few cases of already-neutered animals being opened up again for spaying. It is always the females because the incision line disappears after 6 months and the absence of the uterus cannot be detected by ultra-sound or X-Rays. The absence of the testicles can be easily detected by any vet or experienced rescuer.
Since then, we have insisted and strongly encouraged all feeders and rescuers to have their neutered animals ear-notched, regardless of female or male.
However, some caregivers are still reluctant.
Susan Bell has this to share (below). I hope by reading it, caregivers who are reluctant to have their neutered animals ear-notched will reconsider their decision. It is not only a waste of money to open up an already-neutered animal (we are charged the full fee), but it is very hazardous to unnecessarily put an animal through anaesthesia and the pain of recovery from the incision which was not even necessary in the first place (because she has already been spayed!).
I remember the violent objection way back in 2011 was that it would be unsightly and hence, reduces the chance of the animal getting adopted. For these reasons, we have these to offer:
1. The animal will not look into a mirror and complain that her ear has been notched (Rosie and Daffodil have never complained! Even Timmy and Vincent are both ear-notched). The notching is done under anaesthesia while the spaying/neutering is done; there is no pain involved.
2. If an adopter does not appreciate ear-notching or refuses to adopt an animal just because there is a notch (defect?) on her ear, would you still want to give your animal to such an adopter who clearly only wants the animal because she is “beautiful”? What will happen if the animal (touchwood!) gets a permanent scar, is injured or loses a limb one day?
Cow was neutered in 2006 before I knew about ear-notching. But if you look at this photo above, you’d see that his ear is notched. He got it conveniently notched in an alley fight with another cat from the old neighbourhood! I remember that night when he came back puffing and panting with a bleeding ear. Brought him to the vet and she said that either we amputate part of his ear to prevent an infection or let it heal with antibiotics. We decided to let it heal and heal it did…into a nice V-notch too!
I don’t like to compare us with Singaporeans, so I’m just saying this: In Singapore, many pet owners purposely take their previously neutered pets to be ear-notched (it wasn’t done before the awareness became widespread) because they appreciate its importance.
Enough said (please excuse this ranting – I only do it once in a while), please read Susan’s sharing below (yes, we are giving our full subsidy, but think about it – what a waste, right? And think about the pain both the cat and dog had to go through because of our human ignorance). If you agree that neutered community animals should be ear-notched, PLEASE help us spread the education.
From: susan monk
Date: Tue, May 21, 2013 at 10:26 PM
Subject: The Importance Of Ear-Notching (Spaying of Foxy the dog from Taman Sea and Blacky Cat)
To: Chan Kah Yein <chankahyein@gmail.com>
Foxy the brown dog from Taman Sea and the Black street cat have both been taken to the vet on Monday 20th May to be spayed.
i got a call from the clinic later in the afternoon , informing me that the vet suspects that both the dog and the cat had already been spayed before as she could not find their uterus.
I felt so awful for both the animals to put them through the ordeal of another surgery.
The vet could not understand why if these are strays, the persons responsibe for neutering them in the first place didn’t have their ears notched or even why the Doctor who performed the surgeries didnt do it in the first place.
Both the dog and the cat are doing okay and eating well.
Attached are photos of the dog and cat at the vet , before and after surgery.
The receipts will be posted in the next few days.
Thank you
kind regards
Happy the Cat at the clinic.
Happy, after the unnecessary surgery.
Happy, eating a meal.
(Happy has been ear-notched now.)
Foxy, being weighed prior to the surgery.
Foxy, after the unnecessary surgery.
Foxy, going home.
Foxy, ear-notched now.
Please help us educate feeders and rescuers to have their neutered animals ear-notched. Even though I have no contact at all with Foxy and Happy, just looking at these photos, it pains my heart to know that they had to endure the fear and pain of having to go through a totally unnecessary surgery and now, heal from the incision. I could almost hear them crying out: Please, I have already been spayed!!
An animal cannot tell us that she has already been spayed. That is why we have to get them ear-notched.
To all caregivers who have not been practising ear-notching: Please spare a thought for these animals’ plight and let’s not put them through a totally unnecessary surgery again. You have done a great deed in getting them neutered, but please let other humans know that they have already been neutered by getting their ears notched.
Rosie’s ear was notched by a vet who believes in making a big notch so that there is no doubt at all. He has a point there – it’s visible from afar and you cannot mistake it for a scar due to fighting or a birth defect.
Timmy’s vet prefers a smaller and neater V-notch.
Actually, I think it looks pretty cool, don’t you?
Tabs’ vet forgot to ear-notch her and by the time I reached the clinic, Tabs had already awoken from the anaesthesia. But she is indoors, so it’s not so bad.
I would get both the males and females ear-notched so that we can tell by sight that they have been neutered. I’m not giving up on hoping that one day, our local councils will spare our ear-notched animals. (I’m waiting for YB Wong Chen to set up his office, then I’ll go discuss this issue with him.)
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