YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - Next month, the practice of docking dogs' tails will become illegal across the UK.

Thorsmomma · 03-05-2007, 02:13 PM

In 2002, the Government decided to include tail docking as part of a new Act designed to improve various aspects of animal welfare, although ministers were in favour of retaining the status quo, as was the Kennel Club. Almost a year ago, MPs plumped for the option of a total ban in England and Wales, with exemption for some working dogs. The Scottish Assembly, however, took a stronger line, voting for no exemptions.
So, after 7 April, all vets in England and Wales who are asked to carry out docking will need documentary proof that the dog is to be used for field tasks, such as flushing out or retrieving game or to be used by the police, Customs or armed forces, all of whom supported the need for an exemption. The only type of breeds to be considered will be terriers, spaniels and hunt point retrievers, largely because they spend so much time in the undergrowth.
The law also bans the showing of any dogs docked after it comes into force - although those already docked can be still shown, which means that future Crufts will see a diminishing number of docked dogs. Last year's supreme champion, an Australian shepherd, may be the last time a docked dog becomes top dog. Those from the few countries which still allow docking, such as the United States and Spain, will no longer be eligible.
However, CDB is warning that the law will be unworkable, citing evidence from Sweden where, after a similar ban, the tails of many previously undocked dogs had to be surgically removed because of injury. Mr Squires said: "Dogs will injure their tails or be born with deformed tails, and this will result in them having to have their tails amputated when they are older. Amputation is a genuinely painful, major surgical procedure, whereas the docking of a three-day-old puppy's tail is not.''
The CDB also claims that more than a third of current breeders of traditionally docked dogs will go out of business rather than breed dogs which they say will suffer future discomfort, leaving the business open to unscrupulous "puppy farmers". "We could be looking forward to the extinction of a number of breeds and severe welfare problems for hundreds, if not thousands of dogs," it claims.
To Ms Baines, who led the anti-docking campaign, the issue is much simpler: "Docking is cruel. I know the pro-dockers claim that many will be injured, but at the moment 100 per cent of docked dogs are injured. Why do it? What purpose does it serve? Can you not love your dog with a tail, as much as without a tail?''
The law
Animal Welfare Act 2006 (England and Wales) - Docking
From April 2007 it will be illegal to dock puppies' tails (other than for therapeutic reasons or if a breeder can prove the dog is of a specified type to be used for work, rescue, armed forces, police, pest control).
It will not be permissible for docked dogs to be shown at fee-paying shows. After April the public should report to their local authority any breeders they know whose litters' tails have been removed without the required certification. Anyone flouting the law can be prosecuted and fined ?20,000, possibly imprisoned and be banned from keeping animals. No one should buy a docked puppy without an accompanying certification to prove that the dog has had its tail removed legally.
Animal Welfare Act 2006 (Scotland) - Docking
From 30 April 2007 it will be illegal to dock puppies' tails in Scotland (other than for therapeutic reasons) or to travel across borders to have them docked.
Breeds exempted from the docking ban
Terriers: Including fox, Norfolk and Airedale; Spaniels: including field, cocker, springer and Sussex spaniels; hunt point retrievers: (not in Wales) including the German shorthaired pointer, the Hungarian viszla and the weimaraner.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/thi...cle2328833.ece

03-05-2007, 02:13 PM	#2
Thorsmomma I Love Thor Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,177 Blog Entries: 1	...continued In 2002, the Government decided to include tail docking as part of a new Act designed to improve various aspects of animal welfare, although ministers were in favour of retaining the status quo, as was the Kennel Club. Almost a year ago, MPs plumped for the option of a total ban in England and Wales, with exemption for some working dogs. The Scottish Assembly, however, took a stronger line, voting for no exemptions. So, after 7 April, all vets in England and Wales who are asked to carry out docking will need documentary proof that the dog is to be used for field tasks, such as flushing out or retrieving game or to be used by the police, Customs or armed forces, all of whom supported the need for an exemption. The only type of breeds to be considered will be terriers, spaniels and hunt point retrievers, largely because they spend so much time in the undergrowth. The law also bans the showing of any dogs docked after it comes into force - although those already docked can be still shown, which means that future Crufts will see a diminishing number of docked dogs. Last year's supreme champion, an Australian shepherd, may be the last time a docked dog becomes top dog. Those from the few countries which still allow docking, such as the United States and Spain, will no longer be eligible. However, CDB is warning that the law will be unworkable, citing evidence from Sweden where, after a similar ban, the tails of many previously undocked dogs had to be surgically removed because of injury. Mr Squires said: "Dogs will injure their tails or be born with deformed tails, and this will result in them having to have their tails amputated when they are older. Amputation is a genuinely painful, major surgical procedure, whereas the docking of a three-day-old puppy's tail is not.'' The CDB also claims that more than a third of current breeders of traditionally docked dogs will go out of business rather than breed dogs which they say will suffer future discomfort, leaving the business open to unscrupulous "puppy farmers". "We could be looking forward to the extinction of a number of breeds and severe welfare problems for hundreds, if not thousands of dogs," it claims. To Ms Baines, who led the anti-docking campaign, the issue is much simpler: "Docking is cruel. I know the pro-dockers claim that many will be injured, but at the moment 100 per cent of docked dogs are injured. Why do it? What purpose does it serve? Can you not love your dog with a tail, as much as without a tail?'' The law Animal Welfare Act 2006 (England and Wales) - Docking From April 2007 it will be illegal to dock puppies' tails (other than for therapeutic reasons or if a breeder can prove the dog is of a specified type to be used for work, rescue, armed forces, police, pest control). It will not be permissible for docked dogs to be shown at fee-paying shows. After April the public should report to their local authority any breeders they know whose litters' tails have been removed without the required certification. Anyone flouting the law can be prosecuted and fined ?20,000, possibly imprisoned and be banned from keeping animals. No one should buy a docked puppy without an accompanying certification to prove that the dog has had its tail removed legally. Animal Welfare Act 2006 (Scotland) - Docking From 30 April 2007 it will be illegal to dock puppies' tails in Scotland (other than for therapeutic reasons) or to travel across borders to have them docked. Breeds exempted from the docking ban Terriers: Including fox, Norfolk and Airedale; Spaniels: including field, cocker, springer and Sussex spaniels; hunt point retrievers: (not in Wales) including the German shorthaired pointer, the Hungarian viszla and the weimaraner. http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/thi...cle2328833.ece __________________ Hannah & Thor & Harry The boys on DOGSTER Last edited by Thorsmomma; 03-05-2007 at 02:15 PM.