Have just received this:-

>>You are receiving this e-mail as you have indicated that you would like to receive updates from the CDB.

>>The Animal Welfare Act 2006 comes into force in Wales on 31st March 2007, England on 6th April 2007 and Scotland from 30th April 2007. Tail docking will be effectively banned from the above dates.

>>An exemption* for certain working dogs will only apply to those being docked in England or Wales. We have writen to all vets who currently dock and 75% of those who have replied, told us that they are unlikely to continue docking under its administrative requirements and continued pressure from the RCVS, which disciplines vets who dock within the law.

>>The CDB cannot and will not condone law breaking, so sadly concludes that those UK breeders who wish to continue breeding any of the traditionally docked breeds not covered by an exemption*, abide by the law and leave tails undocked from the above dates.

>>So far as working dog owners are concerned who believe they may be exempt from the docking ban, we are currently suggesting that you do not mate your dogs in the EXPECTATION that we can continue to introduce you to a docking vet after the above dates as we believe that there will be too few docking vets after April to offer members a comprehensive coverage across England and Wales.

>>Although it is not part of our Constitution to introduce members to a docking vet, it is a service we have been able to offer whilst our funds were sufficient to offer the same vets legal aid, should they be disciplined for docking by the RCVS.

>>It also looks as though we will have to withdraw this cover, as the majority of past and present members were allied to dog showing as opposed to working dog owners. The huge reduction in income once show dogs can no longer be docked means, that we will not be in a financial position to offer such cover to vets. Many have only been docking with this assurance along with the confidentiality agreement, in mind.

>>Working dog owners who appear to be exempt*, may well feel it sensible to delay any matings until they have established veterinary cover in their locality.

>>CRUFTS

>>Please note that the CDB will not be present at Crufts this year. The high costs of exhibiting are never covered by attending and at the present time, we believe it would be prudent to safeguard our current funds. For those attending, we trust you have a pleasant and rewarding time.

>>PETITIONS

>>There are two online petitions currently running, which you may wish to support;

<a class='url' href='http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/TailDocking/'>http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/TailDocking/</a>

<a class='url' href='http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Banding-tails/'>http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Banding-tails/</a>

*The Draft Statutory Instrument "The Docking of Working Dogs' Tails (England) Regulations 2007" can be viewed at <a class='url' href='http://www.cdb.org/news36.htm'>http://www.cdb.org/news36.htm</a>

>>The CDB would like to thank all members and supporters who have assisted our campaign in the past by contacting their MP's and Lords, we are just sorry that the conclusion to this campaign is not what we had all hoped for.<<

I really can't understand why working dogs, when docked, are not going to be allowed to show. Surely being able to do both diciplines simply shows what a damn good dog it is, with its natural ability there to be seen, and its conformation etc correct to the breed standard. Whoever thought that one up?

If I've read the bill correctly they won't be able to be used for exhibitions or Gamekeeper fairs etc as it says ANY EVENT where the public HAVE PAID to attend so unless these events continue with free admission for the public I have a feeling they will be breaking the new law?

If that is the case then how will Crufts work next year in regard to the working dogs that are there from the Police, Customs etc will they too be barred?

The public are apparantly against docked dogs & are traumatised by seeing docks with docked tails :rolleyes:

No dogs docked after the ban comes into force will be able to go to Crufts unless the KC comes up with someway to get passed it. They have been quite quiet on this matter.

Does that mean that dogs already docked, before the ban takes place, won't be able to be shown again?

Calmstorm,
as far as I know dogs docked before 6th April will still be allowed to show. Those after the 6th won't be allowed. (I hope i have got this right! :rolleyes:)

You have, dogs docked before 6th April are OK to be shown. Dogs docked on the 6th of April or after that, are not.

Dawn R.

if you like my litter was born on feb 5th had appointment to have their tail dock and the vet wouldnt do them that was 8 weeks before the bann so my pup have tails.yes they will be going in the show ring with their tails,

but alot of vet are not docing only the ones from dbc are still doing it,it a very grey area with vet at the moment,

Of course the public won't be traumatised at seeing the dogs docked before April :D

It's a bit like the Scottish Politician's thought that dogs with docked or natural bobtails couldn't run, turn or balance, so I had to send photo's of my dogs doing such things to show that they could :rolleyes::rolleyes:

as usual in politics a load of prats not knowing what they are talking about!!

I presume also that the gundogs won't be able to do working tests as their owners are members of the public that hae to pay???  We won't be able to do gamefairs etc.  I can't think of anything more stupid than this for something that is uncomfortable for literally 2 seconds.

It seems that when the MPs realised that the ESS etc that keep them safe would be affected they made an exception!! As anyone with half a brain can see, this will cause a split in gundog types etc, so will MPs then be guilty of breaching the nw EU conventio of breeding healthy animals!!!!
Halfwits, they are a disgrace.

Halfwits, they are a disgrace..............Oh how true .

working tests are allowed, as in the legislation it says that docked dogs are allowed to demonstrate working ability at such shows but can not be shown as such.

OOOOOOhhhhhh it makes you want to spit!  Grrrrrrrr.

(Working dog with docked (and amputated) tail owner here!)

But docked dogs can be shown at events where the public DONT pay to attend? and most shows dont charge the public, crufts being the big exception - surely one could say, one is paying to gain entrance to the trade show.... the dog show is free....

Idle thoughts there..

I thought this too - surely the way round this is not to charge any visiting public for entry to dog shows - I don't think many shows charge anyway and of those that do perhaps they could make up the money by charging for programmes or car parking for those that are not showing. Crufts would be affected a it has huge numbers of paying public but they could just call it a dog extravaganza or something - avoiding the word 'show' and get by the rules this way ( or even Crufts dog circus and trade fair- which is the way it appears to be going anyway :D !).

I'm fairly ambigious about docking - to be honest I really don't see the need for non working dogs and think many of their arguements are over exaggerated and sometimes just plain silly - however I do think that the ruling that docked dogs cannot be shown is just spiteful and will  split working and showing lines even further.

Yvonne

The craziest thing of all is the "exemptions" - why does a sniffer dog need docking for instance? If its cruel for one puppy its cruel for all - no half measures. Presumably the show rule was to avoid show people saying their dogs are worked. Basically its a law thought out by people who dont know anything at all about dogs.

>The craziest thing of all is the "exemptions" - why does a sniffer dog need docking for instance?

http://www.cdb.org/news2.htm

Sorry, but cant any dog split his tail from wagging it in a confined space?

Yes. The CDB's site has a picture of a mongrel whose tail required amputation, giving the impression that they believe that all dogs should be docked.

There are undocked breeds who suffer tail damage and it is to be commended IMO that the CDB are prepared to acknowledge this.  It's not just pedigree breeds that are at risk because of the type of slender tail and working traits, if you have a mongrel who is out of the breeds prone to tail damage, the mongrel will be also. The mongrel pictured looks a bit like an English Pointer/Boxer to me but then I could be wrong.

I think when looking at the tail docking argument you have to also look at the breeds, their characteristics and their working profiles. IMO there are traditionally docked breeds that are no longer as at risk of tail damage.  However, I also believe it is unnecessary for parents to have their babies pierced, operated on to have their ears pinned back or male genitalia circumcised but I am prepared to acknowledge freedom of choice.  If we can accept, as a society, these procedures on human children I cannot understand why society is not prepared to accept the wishes of those dog breeders who wish to dock. 

> I also believe it is unnecessary for parents to have their babies pierced, operated on to have their ears pinned back or male genitalia circumcised but I am prepared to acknowledge freedom of choice

As a nation, we (NOT ME ;) ) are more and more prepared to go under the knife for cosmetic surgery - so it is a little ironic that, as a nation, we (NOT ME ;) ) are going the other way with regard to our pets :) (I acknowledge that animals are not consenting - but the intent is similar :) )

Daisy

yes my wispa did she was in whelp on 7th week she went though a door a wagged her tail and slip it open,it didnt heel so we wait untill the puppies went to they new home at 8 weeks then she had 3 inches off.she was a flatcoated retriever

In 1993 or thereabouts, in the county where I live, the alarm went off at the home of a potential terrorist target and an undocked springer sniffer dog was sent in to search for explosives. At some point during the search, the dog cut its tail on something and, in the way that tails do, it bled rather a lot. Being a springer, it continued to wag all over the house, liberally spraying the antique oriental carpets  and silk wallpaper with claret.

Specialist cleaning cost the police authority a five-figure sum and the powers that be decided they would only use docked dogs in future.

Latest KC information about which dogs can be shown here.

as it stands at the moment are there any exemptions in England from the 6th?
http://www.cdb.org/news37.htm
Eavie