DOCKING!!! BANNED!!!!

As from 6th APRIL 2007 the docking of puppies tails has been banned.
We will still be allowed to own/show boxers with docked tails, as long as they were born BEFORE that date and docked before then.

We are very sad about this as boxers are very susceptible to damaging their tails, as they really wag at at frantic pace!

With this in mind I created a petition online to push for breeders to be allowed to band puppies tails in order to shorten them, in the same way that the farmers do their lambs.

The petition collected a total of 3,335 signatures (a drop in the ocean when one considers how many breeders of docked breeds there are in this country!)

The petition is now closed for signing and has gone to 10, Downing St. to the Prime Minister, together with the letter printed below.I have recived an acknowlegment of it's receipt.

It is, however, still possible to view the petition online, together with all the names of those who have signed it.(You may be surprised at some of the names which are absent!)To see it go to http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Banding-tails/
To see signatures, go to bottom of the page on the petition site.(Alternatively, I can EMail you a copy, just ask).


COPY OF LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER
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RE: Animal welfare
I started a petition, only a few weeks ago, which has been submitted to you.It gained 3,335 signatures in that short space of time...that MUST tell you something.
It asked that dog breeders be given the right to band puppy's tails, in the same way farmers do their lambs, in order to prevent future tail damage.
Should we not be allowed to do this, then most REPUTABLE breeders will cease to breed as they will not willingly inflict the pain of a split or broken tail as an adult onto one of their beloved breed.
Puppies will still be bred of course....mainly by puppy farmers who do not care about the welfare of the animal, just the money they get for them.
The docking ban has been implemented without consulting the right people, those most involved with the animals in question.......the reputable breeders.
These customarily docked breeds are 'man made'.....and, therefore docked for a good reason.....and what better reason than their welfare?If they were docked simply for cosmetic/appearance reasons, then why aren't ALL breeds docked?
It is true that the Royal College of Veterinary surgeons expressed their opinion....for the docking ban. However, many, older and more experienced vets gave their opinion as being very much in favour of docking some breeds...the most vulnerable ones.They felt so strongly about this that they actually set up a website..vets4docking.Yet their voice as not heard.
The majority of vets who wanted a docking ban have absolutely no qualms at all about removing a healthy uterus or testicles from a dog to prevent breeding. Whose welfare/convenience is THIS for I ask! It is usually for the convenience of irresponsible owners who cannot/will not ensure their animal is not bred from without this invasive major surgery.(Only this week I have been informed of a healthy 12 month old boxer bitch with a lifetime in front of her, who died a few short hours after a 'routine' spaying operation.) Indeed many vets are pushing owners to have this surgery performed on young puppies whose hormones have not been allowed to fully develop.It could not be that the high charges for such operations increase their motivation for this, could it?
I urge you, Prime minister, to LISTEN to the numerically very strong body of responsible dog breeders, after all.........at the end of every lead is....a VOTER! - Wendy Brooks, B.A. Hons.






SADLY, BLAIR DIDN'T LISTEN...............REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU VOTE IN THE NEXT ELECTION!!!