Docked Dogs Will Join Their Tail Waggin’ Friends at Thomas Bloodworth Park in Parnell, 12 noon on Monday. Should be a great party because…

Docked Dogs Do Wag Their Tails, AND They Sure Can Shake Their Bootees!

Docked dogs are happy, well adjusted animals – just like dogs with tails. They chase the same sticks, bark with the same joy and shake themselves with just the same vigour.

“Parliament’s time is being sadly wasted on unnecessary and unenforceable legislation to ban dog tail docking,” says NZ Council for Docked Breeds spokesperson, Karen McIntyre.

“Tail docking, properly carried out by responsible breeders and/or properly experienced Vets is not cruel or painful,” Ms McIntyre said.

Pro-Docking Vets Fear Reprisal

“But for fear of reprisal from the NZ Veterinary Association (NZVA) there are a significant number of New Zealand Vets who would openly oppose a ban and who would comfortably continue tail docking.

“The Council’s submission to a Parliamentary Select Committee in February will include testimony from New Zealand Vets supporting. But because they fear of reprisal from the NZVA, their names will be known only to the Clerk of Committees for authentication purposes,” she said.

“Dog breeders affiliated with the New Zealand Council for Docked Breeds are without doubt the most caring compassionate and knowledgeable dog owners in this country; they would never condone cruelty to their dogs. Their many years of experience with docking and then raising perfectly developed and emotionally healthy dogs prove that there are no issues of cruelty and physical damage related to properly conducted tail docking.

Docked Dogs’ Tails Are Not “Cut Off” And It Does Not Hurt

“Allegations that docking is cruel have been dishonestly associated with gruesome descriptions of puppies going “under the knife”. What actually happens in the vast majority of responsibly conducted dockings (most by breeders) is that the barely developed tail of a whelp (new-born dog) is banded (using rubber band) and the whole painless process is over in less than a minute.

“It is internationally accepted that because of how undeveloped whelps are, there is almost no sensation felt if the docking is done correctly.”

A Ban Is Unenforceable – the International Experience

Australia – passed a law last year banning docking (in five of the seven states) but docked dogs born since the ban continue to be exhibited in shows there. No successful prosecutions have been taken.

United Kingdom – legislated for Vets-only docking in 1993 but many breeders continue proper banding procedures to dock their dogs and all traditionally docked breeds are still exhibited without tails.
No successful prosecutions have been taken.

Norway – docking is banned but the 2004 Best In Show winner at Crufts, the world’s most prestigious dog show, was a docked standard poodle … from Norway. No successful prosecutions have been taken.

“In fact, no person has been successfully prosecuted for removing their dog’s tail in any country that currently has a ban in place,” said Ms McIntyre. ”Surely this is a strong indication that such legislation is seriously unworkable and a waste of MPs’ time and taxpayers’ money.”

Safeguarding Docking Standards

Ms McIntyre said the New Zealand Kennel Club administered an accreditation scheme for breeders wishing to dock their dogs. They must exceed a required standard to be accredited and are then added to a register through the Club.

“This ensures that the welfare of the puppies is uppermost and that the correct procedures are adhered to.” she said.

“This is not an issue the Government needs to legislate on. It is wasting time and money in attempting to do so. It needs to concentrate on issues of genuine substance, on matters that need its attention because docking dogs in not painful, not cruel and does no damage

ENDS

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