THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT
Animal Welfare Act 2006 (Scotland) - Docking
As 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. Regulations pertaining to this law will
be approved by April 2007.
Animal Welfare Act 2006 (England and Wales) - Docking
As from April 2007 it will be illegal to dock puppies' tails (other
than for therapeutic reasons or if a breeder can submit evidence to
a Veterinary Surgeon that the dog is of a specified type to be used
for work, rescue, armed forces, police, pest control).
Regulations pertaining to this law will be approved by April 2007 by
England and Wales separately. It will not be permissible for
docked dogs to be shown at fee paying shows.
After the dates the regulations on exemptions come
into force, members of 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, possible
imprisonment and be banned from keeping animals (which could mean that
other animals in their care could also be confiscated.
No-one should buy a docked puppy without accompanying certification to
prove that the dog has had its tail removed legally and it is intended
as a working dog under the categories listed in the regulations. This
Veterinary certificate will be proof that the dog has been docked legally
and will be important in prosecution cases.
(photo by permission of Clynalwin Schipperkes)
