THE world of country sports is furious at a U-turn by the Government to bring in a total ban on the tail docking of dogs.
Ben Bradshaw, the Animal Welfare Minister, announced the decision yesterday during the committee stage in Parliament of the Animal Welfare Bill. He offered no exemptions for working dogs, such as gun dogs or police and Customs dogs, or for a vet to authorise tail docking under certain conditions. The breeds most affected are cocker and springer spaniels, terriers and German short-haired and wire-haired pointers.
The announcement came after Mr Bradshaw had canvassed the views of MPs on the Bill’s standing committee. A ban could be in force this year.
The change of policy immediately puts the Government on a new collision course with the countryside lobby, especially as ministers have persistently spoken up for game shooting and said that the sport was safe. The Government’s position had been to maintain the status quo, which is to allow any owner to ask a vet to dock a dog’s tail within ten days of birth. About 70,000 puppies have their tails docked each year.
However, ministers recognised that the issue was controversial and made clear that the matter was for Parliament to decide. Some ministers had supported docking for therapeutic reasons or if a vet could show that there was a need — for example, if the animal was to be a working dog. Docking for cosmetic reasons was widely opposed.
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Once the Animal Welfare Bill receives Royal Assent the plan is to introduce secondary powers in Parliament this autumn to achieve a ban.
Breeders of pets and show dogs were also disappointed. Among the breeds affected in this category are boxers, Old English sheepdogs and Pembroke corgis, favourites of the Queen — although her own pet “dorgis”, a dachshund and corgi cross, are not docked.
Mr Bradshaw told The Times: “The Government holds the view that it should not be the persuader on such a contentious issue and we say we wish to listen to the views of Parliament. I was struck that the views in the committee were very strongly in favour of a complete ban on the docking of dogs’ tails and no one spoke up in favour of the status quo.”
The British Association for Shooting and Conservation is to lobby MPs and argue that such a ban would cause widespread suffering of gun dogs. Simon Clarke, a spokesman for the association, said: “From our calculations there are some 450,000 gun dogs in England and Wales. Given the precedent in Sweden, which introduced such a ban in 1989 when some 35 per cent of working dogs were injured, we are looking at 150,000 working dogs that are likely to get appalling tail injuries.
“Spaniels are widely used as gundogs and as sniffer dogs for law enforcement. Whether working in the field or in confined spaces, they are especially vulnerable to horrendous tail injuries. The tail becomes flayed and sprays blood. It usually requires major surgery and amputation. There is a clear welfare case for docking working dogs, especially spaniels and pointers.
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“This should be done at the discretion of a vet who is satisfied that it will be in the animal’s best interests. We will be making a strong case to MPs that a tightly controlled exemption is in the best interests of animal welfare.”
Graham Downing, spokesman for the Council of Docked Breeds, said: “Given that the Government was backing the staus quo, it is very surprising and disappointing that the Minister has expressed a preference for a total ban.”