§ Mr. Harry Greenway (Ealing, North)I beg to ask leave to present a petition in the name of Mrs. Trediwell of the voluntary Society for Animal Protection in Middlesex. It is addressed to
the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. The Humble Petition of the Society for Animal Protection sheweth that tail docking of dogs is routinely carried out because the result is thought by most official docked breed associations "to improve appearance". The Royal college of Veterinary Surgeons and the British Veterinary Associations have long argued that tail docking is an unnecessary and painful surgical mutilation, sometimes causing extreme suffering and serious complications. Moreover, there is no benefit to a dog having a docked tail.I strongly support the petition and hope that Her Majesty's Government will be able to take action in this important matter.Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House will amend the Protection of Animals Act 1911, to protect dogs against such unnecessary mutilation. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.