tail docking

[murphytherot]

Hello. Cananyone tell me if docking a dogs tail (by a qualiified vetenary surgeon of course) is now banned? I read there was a bill going through parliment to stop dogs tails being docked but i wanted to know has it now gone through and it the process now illegal? Many thanks! x

[lankeela]

Yes from 6th April in England in the majority of cases. There are certain exemptions for 'working' dogs such as some Spaniels, Terriers and Hunt/Point/Retrieve Gundogs, provided they can be certified as genuine 'working' dogs. Other breeds such as Rottweilers, Boxers, Schnauzers, Dobermanns etc will NOT be allowed to be docked.

The law on the act of docking came into force:

In England - on 6th April 2007.

In Wales - on 28th March 2007.

In Scotland � on 30th April 2007.

In Northern Ireland � no ban on the act of docking has yet been introduced.

As now, under the new law in England and Wales, only veterinary surgeons will be allowed to dock puppies. They will then be required to certify that the pups have been legally docked. The evidence/information/ procedures that veterinary surgeons will require to certify that pups have been legally docked has been set out under the government regulations and will be available from Defra.

[lankeela]

Also if you have a breed which can be born with a naturally short or 'bob' tail, if you breed a litter then you should get a letter from your vet on headed notepaper within a few days of the puppies being born to confirm that any puppies with a naturally short tail were born like it.

There are also very complicated rules as to whether you can still take a docked dog to a dog show, and it depends on when they were docked and whether the show charges an entry fee. Further details are available from the Kennel Club website.

[amonty1144]

Also you have to certify that the pup is sold to a working home for work, or has been retained for work. Also the bitch must be shown to the vet to show she is of working type.

ridiculous