I've read on a breed specific forum, that the docking ban has recieved Royal Ascent and becomes law, effective April 6th 2007.

Has anyone else heard anything?

Dawn R.

Hmmm, just done a bit more digging and found it's true. It all happened on Nov 8th, and yes it's law from 6/4/2007.

Dawn R.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/bill/

Bit connfused? Does it mean ALL dogs or are there fine details to be sorted out for working or hpr breeds before then

On the questions and answers bit Q5.

"5. Is the Bill going to ban tail docking?
The Bill will ban all mutilations of animals. However, there will be a regulation to exempt certain mutilations for which a ban is considered inappropriate. Examples would be castrating and spaying cats and dogs, or ear tagging cattle.

Sincere views are held by those who both support and oppose a ban on docking, and we take the view that it would not be for Government to alter the status quo, and that it is an issue for Parliament to properly decide. "

About as clear as mud.

Does this help at all?

<a class='url' href='http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ukpga_20060045_en.pdf'>http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ukpga_20060045_en.pdf</a>

Look at item 6, down on page 6. It might be a bit clearer.

Dawn R.

Seems conclusiv. Just a bit confused that in last weeks dog papers The co ordinator from GSp rescue was still campaigning her petition  for exemptions on HPR breeds as if there was still a chance they could be exempt. Yet this is dated before the papers came out and I understood her campaign to be on going so still a bit

I gather that the KC are petitioning with regard to section 6 - as at it reads at present, no docked dog (even if done before the ban comes into force) will be able to be exhibited/worked at an event where members of the public pay admittance - i am sure that this will be changed however!

Between now and April 6th there are bound to be some amendments.

There has been nothing at all yet about certifying natural stump/short tails either

Do you think that sub-section 9 down on page 7 covers the 'showing' bit.

I read it, that all three sentences are part of one single statement. I could be wrong though.

Dawn R.

That could be the difference - i read them as individual statements - that either 1, 2 or 3 could be an offence.  Lower down it states three defences to these but yet again it's all as clear as mud!

so will we still be able to dock lambs and piglets??

It says it is an offence if a dog is shown where the public pay a fee if the tail was removed on or after the commencement date ie on or after 6th April 07. see page 7  para 9 (c)

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ukpga_20060045_en.pdf

Then maybe we should exclude the public from dog shows! ;) :D

i guess if your dog has been docked before the date, then you are going to have to have something to say a date it was done on?  what happens if the the dog has to have it's tail amputated as part of an op by a vet through injury?

Nah, we just let em in for free don't we.

There was a littel snip in the DW this week about banding instead of Docking..

''Little snip'', that's a pun innit. :)

Does the aticle suggest that banding is OK and cutting isn't?

Dawn R.

cross-posted from another forum

At Hornsby Local Court, November the 3rd 2006, animal cruelty charges against a Dogs NSW member, were dismissed by the presiding Magistrate and formally withdrawn by solicitors representing the NSW Branch of the RSPCA.

When RSPCA Inspectors came to his premises and questioned him, this member maintained that he did not dock the puppies, "I banded them" he was represented by solicitor Ian Jones & Senior Counsel Craig Lenehan, who acted "pro bono" on this matter on behalf of Dogs NSW. All though the intense questioning and numerous court appearances this member maintained his "I did not dock but banded the puppies" statement.

In dismissing the complaints(s) the Magistrate said that in his view banding was not cruel and he also could not find a reference in the NSW
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act that could substantiate the charges that had been laid.

This case has cost the RSPCA thousands of dollars on legal representation.

The RSPCA has 21 days to lodge an appeal, and it is considered unlikely that they will do so, preferring to lobby the Minister for Agriculture and the Government to amend the current legislation.

DOGS NSW President Keith Irwin said that whilst this was a great win, members should be careful in assuming that the RSPCA will not continue in pressing cruelty charges to anyone who bands their puppies, and possibly not all Local Court Magistrates will be of this view.

Keith Said " We must give thanks in no small part to the dedication and
hard work of Wes Stacey, Bob Hales and the other members of the Dogs NSW Canine welfare Committee, who have worked behind the scenes for several months on this matter"

In 21 days we will know if the matter will go to appeal or wether the RSPCA have chosen to lobby the Government for changes to the legislation.

If the matter goes to appeal it will end up being heard by a District Court and that determination, will then be binding on local court magistrates.
Keith went on to say "that in either case the animal welfare groups will commence a lobby campain and in his view DOGS NSW and members must meet them head on,"

Who are DOGS NSW?  Is that in this country?  All I can think of is New South Wales, Australia and the only Hornsby I know is a wee place in Cumbria, surely not big enough for a court.

Yes, Googling these people they come up as Australian legal eagles, not sure any of this is relevent to UK laws.

Yes, it was in Australia as they have a total ban.

I believe that the owner had the puppies confiscated and the RSPCA rehomed them. So even though he was found not guilty he lost his puppies, and the line that he was trying to breed, presumably :( Though I haven't seen how old the bitch was, or whether she was confiscated.

I do think he was playing fast and loose with the law against docking by claiming it was banding :o.  I am perfectly happy with the law against lay people doing it in this country and would not like to see it stretched in this way but, whatever, I live in the UK so I think I will leave other countries to sort out their own laws :)