Scotland plans to allow tail docking of working dogs, but 'the evidence doesn't stack up

A PROPOSAL to permit tail docking in some working dogs in Scotland has met strong resistance from across the profession. Last week Roseanna Cunningham, secretary for environment, climate change and land reform, published a package of animal welfare measures for consideration by the Scottish Parliament this summer. Among them was the proposal for new legislation to permit vets to shorten the tails (remove the end third) of any spaniels and hunt point retrievers intended for use as working dogs. The government said the intention is to reduce the number of tail injuries suffered by working dogs but the proposal has met with strong criticism. Later this month, the BVA will present evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform (ECCLR) Committee on the proposals. Gudrun Ravetz, BVA president, said: ‘This is such an important matter for dogs – such a fundamental part of their communication –...
Source: Veterinary Record - Category: Veterinary Research Tags: News section Source Type: research