Docking - not the end of the tale?

SCOTLAND is proud of its record on animal welfare. Its intention to ban wild animals in travelling circuses is a good example of Scotland setting standards for the rest of the UK to follow. But later this summer the Scottish parliament will vote on whether to accept a new package of welfare proposals and tail docking – banned in Scotland for 10 years – could make a comeback. For many vets and welfare experts, this is an unnecessary and retrograde step. Under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, it is illegal to shorten any dog's tail (unless it is indicated medically). This is different from the rest of the UK where it is permitted for working dogs of certain breeds including hunt point retrievers (HPRs), spaniels and terriers. When the Scottish Government introduced the ban in 2007, it committed to reviewing its position if new evidence that...
Source: Veterinary Record - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Tags: Comment Source Type: research