Gryphon, I was waiting for someone to point out the obvious...
At the risk of sounding insensitive, and with no disregard the love we have for our dogs, they are, after all, DOGS!
We circumcise our baby boys, many pierce our baby girls' ears, and not a peep about that. Our children are human and deserve "humane" treatment. Animals are not human and in many places are afforded more "humane" rights than the people.
I have always recognized the distinction between man and animals and being in the medical field, lament the waste of energy and resources committed to this type of "feelgood" bullshit!