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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 11th February 2016
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Scotland begins consultation on tail docking exemption
Springer spaniel
Views are being sought on a possible change to allow vets to dock the tails of working spaniels and hunt point retriever puppies by a up to a third of their length.

Change would allow vets to dock the tails of specific working breeds

A consultation on whether to introduce an exemption to Scotland’s ban on tail docking has begun.

Views are being sought on a possible change to allow vets to dock the tails of working spaniels and hunt point retriever puppies by a up to a third of their length.

Research commissioned by Glasgow University published in April 2014 suggested that docking the tails of some breeds of working dog while they are puppies could decrease their risk of injury as a working adult.

Tail docking is currently completely banned in Scotland. Elsewhere in the UK, there are exemptions to the bans, allowing certain breeds of working dogs to be docked.

Commenting on the consultation, rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead described Scotland as “a nation of dog-lovers with some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world”.

He added: “Protecting dogs from avoidable harm and suffering is the whole reason Scotland banned tail docking in the first place. But since then it has been argued that an exemption for specific breeds could help reduce the risk of injury to working dogs.

“This issue has clearly divided opinion which is why it is only right and proper that the Scottish Government formally consults on such an exemption and how it might work in practice.”

Mr Lochhead continued: “Specifically, we are seeking views about a very tightly-defined exemption for spaniels and hunt point Retrievers as well further potential restrictions such as whether docking should be limited to the top third of the tail, or whether the procedure should only be carried out by specially approved veterinary surgeons.”

The Scottish government urge anyone with an interest in the matter to respond before the consultation closes on 3 May, 2016. For more information: visit https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/animal-welfare/proposal-to-permit-tail-docking. 

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.