Post by dottydogs on Mar 8, 2007 8:57:08 GMT 1
Get voting everyone - GMTV Poll today:
_http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=24892_
(http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=24892)
Should taildocking be banned?
yes: 32.64%
No: 67.41
Chat on Tail docking: Now you can discuss topics like these on our brand new
GMTV Chat message board - simply _click here to join the discussion_
(http://chatroom.gm.tv/) .
A ban on cosmetic tail docking for dogs could come into force today - tell
us your thoughts
The House of Lords will today debate on the regulations of the Animal
Welfare Act, which could mean an end to tail docking comes into force within
the
next month.
Currently between 80,000 and 100,000 puppies are docked each year, many for
cosmetic reasons. This figure would be reduced by 80% if the ban is approved.
(http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=24848)
Join in the discussion
Tail docking row
Crufts, the most famous dog show in the world, gets underway today. But this
year, it's a show divided by the row engulfing the dog world over the
imminent ban on docking dog's tails.
Last year's supreme champion was a docked Australian shepherd.
If the Lords give the go-ahead, tail docking will be banned across the UK
from April 7th, with the only exemptions being for working dogs, (such as those
used by the police, Army or rescue services) docked before they are five
days old.
There are no exemptions at all in Scotland.
Docked breeds include spaniels, terriers, German pointers, dobermanns,
rottweilers, boxers, old English sheepdogs, weimaraners, corgis and even some
poodles.
Pro-docking
Fans of docking say it prevents dogs injuring their tails and enduring
serious amputation operations later in life, (as well as being more hygienic).
They say puppies show no distress during docking and suffer no pain.
The pro-dockers say many reputable breeders will go out of business (they
estimate 30%), because they will refuse on principle to breed dogs which are
likely to have tail problems later in life. They say this will lead to a rise
in unscrupulous puppy farms.
Docking critics
Many critics say the practice is cruel, barbaric and unnecessary.
The British Veterinary Association says 90% of vets are against what it
describes as a painful procedure which should only be carried out for medical
reasons.
Liberal Democrat Norman Baker backed a complete ban, saying: "A dog is born
with a tail and therefore presumably it has a purpose otherwise it would have
been eliminated through genetic manipulation over many generations."
History of the practice
The practice started in Roman times, when it was believed the muscles in the
tail were a cause of rabies. Later, the tails of hunting dogs were docked to
prevent them getting injured in thickets and briars.
Docking became the norm for hunting dogs in the UK. Dobermanns started
having their tails docked because they were used by tax collectors - and having
no
tail meant less for the tax collector's victims to grab onto in complaint!
In the late 1700s William Pitt introduced a tax on dogs - only working dogs
were exempt. This meant people starting docking pets' tails to 'prove' they
were working dogs, thus avoiding the tax.
What do you think? Share your thoughts with us on dog tail docking by
sending an email using the form below or a video message to 07739 672 673 (cost
50p
+ usual picture rate).
Now you can discuss topics like these on our brand new GMTV Chat message
board - simply _click here to join the discussion_ (http://chatroom.gm.tv/) .
_http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=24892_
(http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=24892)
Should taildocking be banned?
yes: 32.64%
No: 67.41
Chat on Tail docking: Now you can discuss topics like these on our brand new
GMTV Chat message board - simply _click here to join the discussion_
(http://chatroom.gm.tv/) .
A ban on cosmetic tail docking for dogs could come into force today - tell
us your thoughts
The House of Lords will today debate on the regulations of the Animal
Welfare Act, which could mean an end to tail docking comes into force within
the
next month.
Currently between 80,000 and 100,000 puppies are docked each year, many for
cosmetic reasons. This figure would be reduced by 80% if the ban is approved.
(http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=24848)
Join in the discussion
Tail docking row
Crufts, the most famous dog show in the world, gets underway today. But this
year, it's a show divided by the row engulfing the dog world over the
imminent ban on docking dog's tails.
Last year's supreme champion was a docked Australian shepherd.
If the Lords give the go-ahead, tail docking will be banned across the UK
from April 7th, with the only exemptions being for working dogs, (such as those
used by the police, Army or rescue services) docked before they are five
days old.
There are no exemptions at all in Scotland.
Docked breeds include spaniels, terriers, German pointers, dobermanns,
rottweilers, boxers, old English sheepdogs, weimaraners, corgis and even some
poodles.
Pro-docking
Fans of docking say it prevents dogs injuring their tails and enduring
serious amputation operations later in life, (as well as being more hygienic).
They say puppies show no distress during docking and suffer no pain.
The pro-dockers say many reputable breeders will go out of business (they
estimate 30%), because they will refuse on principle to breed dogs which are
likely to have tail problems later in life. They say this will lead to a rise
in unscrupulous puppy farms.
Docking critics
Many critics say the practice is cruel, barbaric and unnecessary.
The British Veterinary Association says 90% of vets are against what it
describes as a painful procedure which should only be carried out for medical
reasons.
Liberal Democrat Norman Baker backed a complete ban, saying: "A dog is born
with a tail and therefore presumably it has a purpose otherwise it would have
been eliminated through genetic manipulation over many generations."
History of the practice
The practice started in Roman times, when it was believed the muscles in the
tail were a cause of rabies. Later, the tails of hunting dogs were docked to
prevent them getting injured in thickets and briars.
Docking became the norm for hunting dogs in the UK. Dobermanns started
having their tails docked because they were used by tax collectors - and having
no
tail meant less for the tax collector's victims to grab onto in complaint!
In the late 1700s William Pitt introduced a tax on dogs - only working dogs
were exempt. This meant people starting docking pets' tails to 'prove' they
were working dogs, thus avoiding the tax.
What do you think? Share your thoughts with us on dog tail docking by
sending an email using the form below or a video message to 07739 672 673 (cost
50p
+ usual picture rate).
Now you can discuss topics like these on our brand new GMTV Chat message
board - simply _click here to join the discussion_ (http://chatroom.gm.tv/) .