§ 9. Mr. Chris Bryant (Rhondda)When she will bring forward legislation to outlaw the unnecessary docking of animals' tails. [55122]
§ The Minister for Rural Affairs (Alun Michael)We have just completed a consultation exercise on animal welfare law and know that there is considerable concern 905 about the practice of tail docking of dogs. We are now considering whether any changes need to be made to the law.
§ Mr. BryantI do not wish to hound the Minister on this point, but is not the practice of cutting dogs' tails off purely for cosmetic reasons unnecessary and barbaric? Is not it time that we acceded to the European convention on the protection of pet animals and gave dogs back their right to wag?
§ Alun MichaelI shall not refer to the dogged determination with which my hon. Friend pursues his point. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' code of professional conduct states that docking should not be carried out except for therapeutic reasons or to protect the dog from disease or injury. Given the prevalence of dogs with docked tails, it would appear that the royal college's guidance is not being followed uniformly by the profession, and that is one of the issues that we will consider as the outcome of the consultation is considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.