The CDB has been monitoring and campaigning against parts of the new UK Animal Welfare Acts which restrict the freedom of choice. It also monitored progress of the Council of Europe's Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals. This Convention severely restricts canine breeding, so has serious implications for ALL dog breeds across Europe and beyond.

Tail docking in the new UK Animal Welfare Acts

In 2004 the Government published a Draft version of its proposed Bill. This indicated that there would be a ban on so-called ‘mutilations’. The Draft Bill also proposed that some ‘mutilations’ would be exempt from a ban. So far as docking was concerned, the Government signaled that the docking of ‘working dogs’ would be permitted, but that ‘cosmetic’ docking would not.

Since 2004, the CDB worked very closely with the Kennel Club in a concerted effort to retain the freedom of choice. We were both pleasantly surprised when the Animal Welfare Bill was published 14 October 2005 to read in the Regulatory Impact Assessment which accompanies the Bill, that the Government stated: “Sincere views were held by those who both support and oppose a ban on cosmetic docking and our preference is that there should continue to be freedom of choice.”

Dark forces

Sadly, this view was not shared by the majority of MP's. The third reading of the Animal Welfare Bill took place on Tuesday 14 March 2006, and 88% of MPs voted in favour of a ban on tail docking with an exemption for certain working dogs, with many restrictions.

It would appear that the lobbying machine of the Countryside Alliance (CA) and BASC who had been encouraging MP's to save docking for working dogs at the expense of show dogs, had won the day. In early 2006 we were surprised at receiving many letters from previously supportive Conservative MP's now suggest that they will only support docking for working dogs, classifying non working dogs under “the appalling act of docking for cosmetic reasons". We have no doubt that they were heavily influenced by the Countryside Alliance and BASC, who had previously supported the CDB approach.

Both BASC and the Countryside Alliance continued to work closely with the authorities to help frame the regulations outlining the "working dog exemptions" both in England and Wales.

The Animal Welfare Acts came into force in Wales on 31 March 2007, England on 6 April 2007 and Scotland from 30 April 2007. Tail docking will be effectively banned from the above dates. An exemption for certain working dogs only applies to those being docked in England or Wales.

United we stand, divided we fall

Having worked closely with the Kennel Club from 2004, we were disappointed in 2006 when they moved their campaigning might away from the retention of tail docking, to a ban of electric shock collars instead. Losing three major allies left the CDB in a far weaker position.

The exemptions "won" by BASC and the Countryside Alliance appear unworkable as so few vets have indicated that they are likely to continue to dock under its administrative requirements and continued pressure from the RCVS, who to this day, discipline innocent vets who dock within the law.

The CDB has been offering members introductions to docking vets for over ten years, but this
service has now ceased for two reasons;

1 - we can no longer guarantee veterinary coverage throughout England and Wales due to the huge decrease in numbers of vets docking under the new regulations.

2 - our offer to finance the defense of vets disciplined by the RCVS for docking, has had to be
withdrawn as over 90% of our funding previously came from the show fraternity. Now they can no longer dock, our membership income and funds will be drastically reduced.

The CDB has never condoned law breaking, so sadly concludes that those UK breeders who wish to continue breeding traditionally docked breeds, should abide by the law and leave tails undocked from the above dates, or stop breeding.

If you are a working dog owner and you are a member of the Countryside Alliance or the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, you might like to contact them direct for guidance concerning vets who are continuing to dock working dogs, as they were major forces in framing the legislation.

Full details of the position on docking in the UK as at April 2007 can be found here.

Australia has experienced a huge drop in litter registrations since their tail docking ban was introduced details here It remains to be seen how the UK will react, but a similar drop is to be expected.

Any American or Canadian reader believing they are safe from those seeking to ban tail docking, may be interested to read what their veterinary associations have to say on the matter.

In March 2005, the West Hollywood City Council voted to outlaw "cosmetic" surgery for animals. The motion to bar "non-therapeutic" surgery for animals was introduced by Mayor John Duran, who says that tail-docking, ear-cropping, de-fanging, and de-barking are all done for cosmetic reasons and for the convenience of pet owners. If the law is written into the books, which appears likely, West Hollywood will become the first city in North America to ban such surgery for animals.

Concerned breeders in New Zealand are continuing to campaign against a ban and Australia has lost the battle for common sense.

Unchecked, breeders world-wide are facing the same anti docking, anti dew claw removal, anti breeder hysteria which is being fueled by a minority of the veterinary profession and major animal protection societies, who campaign under the pretence of "animal welfare".

The following selection of pictures show tail damage experienced by dogs in traditionally docked breeds who were not docked as whelps.

click on any thumbnail to see full image

Damage can occur either in the working environment or when just kept as a companion (see Boxer tail damage pictures from Sweden). Damage that would have been avoided by a simple painless procedure at three days old. In the UK, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has continually tried to ban vets from docking any puppies. The RSPCA describes tail docking as a mutilation and cruel. The Council of Europe wishes to ban all tail docking and dew claw removal.

America's Quote

Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights.

I believe that the following extract proves that the minority desire to ban tail docking is alive in the United States.

Ignored, groups such as this will gain strength and persuade the authorities that their unsubstantiated claims are valid and widely accepted. Legislative changes restricting docking may slip through unnoticed, lumped in with the banning of other practices which are perhaps valid in the name of welfare, thus providing little or no opposition. If you support the docking option, you need to be prepared to campaign for its retention and to make your voice heard.

Quote starts:

Position Statement:

Cosmetic Surgery or Surgery to Correct 'Vices'

The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights is opposed to various surgeries done to meet 'breed standards' or to correct so-called vices.

Procedures such as ear cropping, tail docking or 'debarking' in dogs, or declawing in cats are unacceptable because the suffering and disfigurement they cause the animal are not offset by any benefits to the animal. If such a procedure can be shown to be necessary for medical or humane reasons, then it is permissible. The 'breed standards' for dogs must be altered to allow the animals to be shown without being surgically mutilated.

End of Quote

Please do not be fooled by the apparent get out clause "If such a procedure can be shown to be necessary for medical or humane reasons, then it is permissible". This will be interpreted as the tail docking procedure only being allowed when an adult dog has injured its long tail. This group is plainly under the misconception that tail docking is merely "cosmetic surgery".