What kind of gun licence do I need to tail dock dogs?

Answer 1

In the UK only Veterinarians are permitted to dock puppies/dogs' tails. It is illegal for a breeder/lay person to do it.

Scotland - tail docking except for therapeutic reasons has been banned in Scotland as from 30th April, 2007. They cannot be taken across borders to be docked.

N. IRELAND - No change as yet from previous legislation where only Veterinary Surgeons may dock.

REGULATIONS:-

ENGLAND - The regulations for truly WORKING dog exemptions as from 6th April 2007 (although some may be found not to be suitable for work later) are Terriers and their crossbreeds, Spaniels and their crossbreeds and HPRs. This does not apply to dogs bred as pets.

Anyone who is cruel to an animal, or does not provide for its welfare needs, may be banned from owning animals, fined up to £20,000 and/or sent to prison.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/ukpga_20060045_en_1

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/en/ukpgaen_20060045_en.pdf

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006/en/ukpgaen_20060045_en_1.htm - end

NB 8) A person commits an offence if- (a) he owns a subsection (3) dog, and (b) fails to take reasonable steps to secure that, before the dog is 3 months old, it is identified as a subsection (3) dog in accordance with regulations made by the appropriate national authority.

Explanatory note:-

31. Subsection (8) requires a person who owns a dog which was legitimately docked by a Vet to ensure that the dog is identified as having been legally docked. The owner will commit an offence if he does not take reasonable steps to ensure that his docked dog is so identified

Subsection (13)(b) allows the appropriate national authority to make regulations about the method of identification required, e.g. micro-chipping .

WALES - The list of truly working dog breeds exempted and as amended in the Welsh Plenary as from 28th March 2007 (although some may be found not to be suitable for work later) is now as follows:

Spaniels: of only the following breeds will be eligible English Springer Spaniel; Welsh Springer Spaniel; Cocker Spaniel, but not combinations of breeds and

Terriers of only the following breeds will be eligible Jack Russell Terrier, Cairn Terrier (normally undocked!) Lakeland Terrier, Norfolk Terrier - but not combinations of breeds. This does not apply to dogs bred as pets.

The HPR breeds remain as originally drafted. Bracco Italiano; Brittany; German Long-haired Pointer; German Wire-haired Pointer; Hungarian Vizsla; Hungarian Wire-Haried Vizsla; Italian Spinone; Spanish Water Dog; Weimaraner; Korthals Griffon; Slovakian Rough-Haired Pointer; Large Munsterlander; Small Munsterlander.This does not apply to dogs bred as pets.

http://new.Wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/ahw/animal_welfare/Companiondomesticanimalwelfare/taildockingregulations/?lang=en

Certificate requiredhttp://new.wales.gov.uk/depc/1382175/1519627/DOC_1_CERTIFICATE_ENGLISH_11.pdf?lang=en

Puppies presented for docking to the Vet as truly WORKING dogs can only be docked at the discretion of the Vet.

A person commits an offence if he shows a dog at an event to which members of the public are admitted on payment of a fee (England and Wales), also see these relevant DEFRA links:-

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/20071120.htm

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/act/index.htm

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/act/docking.htm

Answer 2

Tail docking of dogs is a controversial and often illegal practice in many jurisdictions. You should first check the laws in your area to see if tail docking is allowed and under what circumstances. If it is legal, you may need a veterinary license or specific training to perform the procedure.