TAIL DOCKING
Under current WA legislation, the docking of dogs’ tails for cosmetic purposes is now banned. In the past, certain dog breeders could carry out this procedure on puppies between the age of 2 to 5 days. The new legislation only permits a registered veterinarian to dock a dog’s tail and this procedure can only be performed for medical reasons.
The following is an excerpt taken from the WA Animal Welfare (General) Regulations 2003:
"14. Further offences (s.94) - Tail docking
(1) In this regulation, a reference to "tail docking" means the amputation of one or more coccygeal vertebrae, leaving at least the first coccygeal vertebrae intact (unless the health of the animal will be adversely affected by the retention of that first vertebrae, in which case it includes the removal of that vertebrae).
(2) A person who is not a registered veterinary surgeon shall not carry out tail docking of a dog. Penalty: $2000
(3) A registered veterinary surgeon shall not carry out tail docking of a dog unless he or she believes that there are sufficient reasons for the tail docking to proceed for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes. Penalty: $2000"
Source: Department of Local Government and Regional Development, Government of Western Australia
For more info on tail docking issues, visit the RSPCA site
