On 16 March 2010 amendments to the Animal Welfare (General) Regulations 2003 were gazetted amending the conditions under which a registered veterinary surgeon may legally perform tail docking in dogs.
Regulation 14 (3) now reads:
A registered veterinary surgeon shall not carry out tail docking of a dog except where the tail docking is clinically indicated for the purpose of curing or alleviating a disease or injury from which the dog suffers.
Veterinary surgeons are no longer permitted to perform tail docking in dogs for prophylactic reasons. Veterinary surgeons who continue to carry out tail docking in dogs for prophylactic reasons will be liable to prosecution by both the RSPCA and the Board.
For a copy of the gazetted change click the following link.
