The Animal Welfare Act.

[K9 Obedience]

The long awaited Animal Welfare Act has been passed through Parliment here in the UK. It came into force on Friday, April 6th in England and March 28th in Wales. The Act calls for a ban on docking dog's tails amongst other issues. Disappointingly working dogs are exempt from the ban but at least restrictions are in place. The owner has to conform to strict guidelines and must prove to a veterinary surgeon that the dog is truly working. Scotland accepted the Act with no EXEMPTIONS, just as many other countries have done.
The pro docking lobby had little on which to base an arguement seeing as many scientific studies have proved that puppies DO feel pain through and after the procedure. There is no scientific evidence that shows that working dogs injure their tails anymore than undocked working dogs.
The two main working breeds, the Border Collie and the Foxhound both have undocked tails yet can work through dense undergrowth, rough terrain and woodland and do not suffer major injuries to their tails. In general, tail injuries need only basic first aid and no one seems to be interested in working dogs that injure their ears, (far more common) or any other parts of their bodies such as the feet. Cut pads are more frequent than damaged tails!!!
The majority of organisations and the public are disappointed that working dogs are exempt, but most of the veterinary organisations say that their members will not be docking even working breeds tails for ethical reasons and for fear of reprisals due to the complicated rules that need to be adhered to.

The Council for Docked Breeds, (CDB) fought against the Act from 2002 together with the UK Kennel Club. The CDB lost its valuable ally when by 2004 the Kennel Club shifted its stance away from docking to a ban on electric shock collars. David McDowell, RSPCA Acting Chief Veterinary Advisor said:

"However docking is dressed up, it remains a painful and cosmetic amputation, which is all about tradition rather than the dog's welfare. In Scotland there will be a complete ban from 30th April on the unacceptable practise of docking a dog's tail, except when medically required after suffering injury or disease. Why England was unable to emulate this sound and scientifically-led stance is deeply disappointing."

The Dog's Trust also supported the ban and called the new legislation:

"The most significant animal welfare legislation for nearly a Century."



The Animal Welfare Veterinary Team of the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs, (DEFRA) review of tail docking in 2002.

"The arguements put forward by those who wish docking to be continued are unsound from a scientific viewpoint, are contary to accepted standards for the welfare of the dogs and serve only to contribute to artifical physical breed standards."

The Animal Welfare Act  means that any owner or keeper of animals now has a legal, "Duty of care" for their animals and must provide.

1. A suitable environment in which to live.
2. To exhibit normal behaviour patterns.
3. A suitable diet including fresh water.
4. To be housed with or apart from other animals.
5. To be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease and to recieve veterinary treatment when necessary.
6. The minimum age which a person can buy an animal is now raised from 12 to 16 years.

Offenders can now be prosecuted and recieve up to 51 weeks in prison and/or a fine of up to £20,000. In Scotland, the Animal Health and Welfare Minister, Ross Finnie said:

"Tail docking of dogs involves the removal of most or part of the tail, serving muscles, tendons, nerves and sometimes bone or cartilage. That cannot be justified because of a possibility that the dog may injure its tail in later life."

The Animal Welfare Act is currently in primary legislation. Secondary legislation, which will detail specifics regarding this law, and Codes of Practise will follow. It is to be hoped that Parliment will refine the exemption for working dogs and make it very difficult for any dog owner to continue with this barbaric tradition of amputating a dog's tail purely for cosmetic reasons.
Anyone that tries to claim that it is in the dog's best interest should refer to the wily old fox that can lead a pack of hounds a merry dance through the most dense undergrowth yet sports a
BUSHY TAIL......
Dog Lover.