The Tail Docking Ban Law - Essay Example

Law against Tail Docking in Dogs by [Insert Names of Author(s)] [Insert Course Identification information here] [Insert Professors name here] [Insert Submission date here]Law against Tail Docking in Dogs Tail docking in dogs is defined as the shortening of the dog’s tail through amputation. The procedure is done for the purposes like therapeutic- to correct or repair an injury which is done under anesthesia; cosmetic- for aesthetic purposes and to make the dog conform to breed standards; and preventive- done in certain working breeds of dogs to avoid tail damage during work(BVA ). Tail docking was traditionally done to prevent injuries of the tails of dogs but it evolved into being done for aesthetic purposes which does the procedure for the pleasure of the owners not for the benefit of the animal(WSAVA). The banning of tail docking in dogs is a must for the welfare of these animals. Dogs that undergo this procedure experience pain which is manifested by whimpering, squealing, wiggling the whole body or tail stump, and sometimes urination. These are solid evidences that dogs feel pain during and after the procedure especially when the effect of anesthesia already wanes. The tail which is used by dogs to communicate their mood and attitude is injured during the procedure(BVA ). It serves as their tool for expression through body language using the tail and it is also important for balance(WSAVA).The long term negative effects of tail docking in dogs though still remains as a theory up to now. Laws that ban the tail docking procedure in dogs differ in different countries of the world. Some countries still allow it, some completely banned the procedure, and others ban tail docking with exclusion to the law. In United Kingdom, the procedure is totally banned in Scotland but in England and Wales there are exemptions to the law (see Appendix 1). Part of the provision in the exemptions of the tail docking in dogs ban in England and Wales is that veterinarians should be able to complete the certificates as well as the processes of verification of the relevance of the evidence that supports the certificate that are required(OPSI ). In England and Wales, only dogs breeds listed in Appendix 1 are allowed to be tail docked provided that they will be used for activities of Her Majesty's armed forces; law enforcement; emergency rescue; the lawful shooting of animals; or lawful pest control(OPSI ). The numerous numbers of working dogs that acquire injuries in their workplace serve as evidences that working dogs are more prone to tail injuries hence the provision in the law working dogs in proper specification of purpose and breed is allowed to be tail docked. England and Wales have similar regulations for the exemptions in the tail docking law but there are some differences. Wales regulations on the procedure is has lesser breeds allowed when compared to those in England. Included also in the Wales regulations is the specification by the client of the breed of the dam and dog to be tail docked in the certificate, the procedure can only be done if the veterinary surgeon is sure that the dog and dam are according to the specified type by the regulation. Evidence that proves the specified purpose of the dog which is indicated in the certificate is also a particular in the Wales regulation. In England on the other hand, the veterinary surgeon has the requirement before the tail docking procedure to identify evidence that the dog that will undergo the procedure will likely to work in areas specified by the regulation. Dogs to be tail docked also must belong to these specifications: should be younger than 5 days, microchipped after the surgery, and in accordance to the specified types and breeds of dogs allowed to be tail docked(RCVS). Scotland totally banned tail docking since April 30, 2006 through Section 20 of Animal Health and Welfare Act 2006 of Scotland. Even the tail docking of puppies on the basis that it a prophylactic procedure is not exempted in the law in Scotland(Government). The difference in the regulation of England and Wales to Scotland is that non-therapeutic tail docking of dogs in Scotland is strictly prohibited; while in England and Wales non-therapeutic tail docking is allowed provided that it is for working dogs that are included in the specification of breed type, and working areas in which these dogs will serve(RCVS) . The tail docking ban law was effective in Wales since March 28, 2007 and in England starting April 6, 2007. It is included in the law that dogs that undergone tail docking prior to the realization of the Animal Welfare Act of 2006 in England and Wales is still permitted to join in dog shows in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The dogs that are docked after the implementation of the tail docking ban law are not allowed to enter in shows in England and Wales. Demonstrations of the working ability of dogs that are tail docked and with breeds that follows the exemptions of the law in England and Wales are still allowed. Scotland and Northern Ireland also allows the show of dogs that are tail docked legally in England and Wales(CDB-UK ). Microchips are inserted on working dogs that are allowed for tail docking to ensure the thorough implementation of the rule. The punishment of people that are guilty of violating England’s Animal Welfare Act of 2006, in which tail docking ban is included; are subject to imprisonment not exceeding than 51 weeks or a fine not exceeding 20,000 Euros or both(CDB-UK ). The Scottish government implements a penalty of six months imprisonment or a fine of 5,000 Euros to those who go against the Animal Welfare Act of 2006(Government). Prior to the proceedings for the implementation of the tail docking in dogs ban the English government conducted a consultation to various organizations affected by the law(BVA ).Various animal rights organizations in United Kingdom have different views about tail docking in dogs. Most of them consider the procedure a violation of the animal’s rights while others tolerate it. Veterinary associations express their strong agreement to the ban of tail docking. Among those organizations that strongly condemn the procedure is the RSPCA or Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This organization was involved in the campaign for the approval and implementation of the Animal Act of 2006. RSPCA believe that the Act protects the dogs from any form of animal cruelty that includes tail docking. The RSPCA director general, Jackie Ballard said this "the new welfare offence will for the first time protect thousands of animals from enduring serious ongoing neglect each year, by legally obliging owners to care for them properly, something the RSPCA has been campaigning on for many, many years" during an interview(BBC). PSDA is another organization that supports the Animal Welfare Act of 2006 wherein tail docking of dogs is included. The organization stated in the memorandum that they pass to the parliament that they “fully supports and endorses the aims of the Animal Welfare Bill, especially the aim to introduce wider legislation with the purpose of updating the existing animal welfare provision in the UK”(Parliament). Indicated also in the memorandum in which the PSDA submitted to the parliament that they support the illegalization of tail docking in dogs except only for purposes that evidence as well as good reason why the procedure is beneficial to the dog(Parliament). The Kennel Club appreciates the Animal Welfare Act of 2006 including the tail docking in dogs ban. It encourages some key points of the Act and considers it as better protection for animals. This organization allows the entering into shows of dogs that are traditionally docked either with or without their tails amputated. They even modified their breed standards that now includes criteria for undocked dogs in the traditionally tail docked categories(Club). The Council of Docked Breeds (CDB) on the other hand, is campaigning to guard the freedom of tail docking in dogs. They believe that doing the procedure will help dogs by prevention of injuries that are due to long tail in their working environment and even in their homes such as in companion dogs. In this line of reasoning they propose that injuries to the tails of the dog can be prevented by a simple painless procedure during the third day of the dog’s life(CDB-UK ). The secretary general of Council of Docked Breeds, Mrs. Ginette Elliott said that “the Bill is a great disappointment to us, as it will be to our many Scottish members and to the docked breed owners and breeders with whom we have worked so closely over these past few months” during an interview last October 10, 2005(CDB-UK ). The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) that have the same position on the issue with CDB (UK) formed an alliance called RCVS vets for docking. In their website they listed the 64 veterinary surgeons that signed their negative position in their reply to the DEFRA consultation for the tail docking ban law (RCVS Vets for Docking). The natural function of the dog’s tail is severed in the tail docking procedure thus it only the protection of the welfare of the animals that this procedure is banned. The exemptions to the rule in England and Wales are just appropriate because working dogs are prone to tail injuries in their working environment. In time hopefully these exemptions can be found ways into including it to the ban Act so that there is an equal protection in all dogs against mutilation that is done during the tail docking procedure. Those who advocate tail docking especially the dog breeders can consider breeding short tailed breeds of dogs so that they won’t have to resort to the docking procedure. Works Cited Appendix 1 These exemptions to the tail docking ban in England are any type or combination of hunt point retrieve breeds, terriers, and spaniels. In Wales, only these selected dog breeds: Cocker, English Springer, and Welsh Springer of Spaniel breed; Norfolk, Cairn, Jack Russell, and Lakeland of the Terrier breed; and Hungarian Vizsla, Spanish Water Dog, German Wire Haired Pointer, Braque Italian, Weimaraner, Brittany, German Long Haired Pointer, Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer, Italian Spinone, Large Munsterlander, Korthals Griffon, German Short Haired Pointer, Small Munsterlander, and Hungarian Wire Haired Vizsla of the Hunt point retrievers breed can be docked. Only pure of the aforementioned breeds are allowed which means that mixed of any breeds is also banned for tail docking(CDB-UK ). Read More