wezsmummy

Hiya was talking to someone on the park today and apparently they are banning tail docking from sept this year. There are exemptions like using dogs for sport and the police but commercial breeders are not alowed to dock. My question is how will they enforce this ban? surely there are going to be breeders slipping through the net and leaving new owners with illegal puppies??
Not that it is relevent to me but i was just curious lol

brumwolf

Here it is in a nutshell !!!
Westminster Briefing
‘The Animal Welfare Bill: Raising The Standards'

“Once this legislation is enacted, our law will be worthy of our reputation as a nation of animal lovers…We are raising standards of animal welfare. Anyone who is responsible for an animal will have to do all that is reasonable to meet the needs of their animal.”
-Ben Bradshaw, Animal Welfare

The introduction of the Animal Welfare Bill demonstrated an effort by the government to clarify, condense and modernise legislation on animal welfare, some of which has not been addressed since 1911. Amongst other things, the bill aims to ensure that all vertebrate animals are properly cared for by their owners and allows for preemptive action to be taken against unfit caretakers before an animal suffers. It also simplifies the legislation, consolidating more than 20 pieces of legislation into one.

With the government attempting to introduce the most significant animal welfare legislation for nearly a century, participants at this Westminster Briefing will have the opportunity to discuss the key elements of the Bill, namely:

• reduce animal suffering by enabling preventive action to be taken before suffering occurs
• place on people who are responsible for domestic and companion animals a duty requiring them to do all that is reasonable to ensure the welfare of their animals
• extend the existing power to make secondary legislation to promote the welfare of farmed animals to non-farmed animals, bringing legislation for non-farmed animals in line with that for farmed animals
• deter persistent offenders by strengthening penalties and eliminating many loopholes in the current system. For example, those causing unnecessary suffering to an animal will face up to 51 weeks in prison, a fine of up to £20,000,($37500) or both
• simplify the legislation for enforcers and animal keepers by consolidating over 20 pieces of legislation into one
• extend to companion animals welfare codes agreed by Parliament, a mechanism currently used to provide guidance on welfare standards for farmed animals
• strengthen and amend current offences related to animal fighting
• increase the effectiveness of law enforcement for animal welfare offences
• increase from 12 to 16 the minimum age at which a child may buy an animal, and prohibit the giving of pets as prizes to unaccompanied children under the age of 16
• ban mutilations of animals, with certain specified exemptions
Delegates will be drawn from all those involved in the health and welfare of animals; local & central government, animal welfare agencies, dog wardens, religious groups, police authorities, volunteer organizations, gaming societies, and environmental groups

It is expected to come into force about March 2007.

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My favourite quote "If it's not a Doberman,It's just a dog" Anon