Breeders barking mad
2008-05-26 14:17
Port Elizabeth - Wagging tail or docked one?
That was the question on the lips of dog breeders, animal welfare organisations and vets after the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) announced that from June 1, veterinarians who docked dogs' tails could be prosecuted.
They could even lose their licence to practise.
On the one hand, animal welfare organisations welcomed the ban.
On the other hand, many breeders were angry that the council had decided to forbid its members to dock the tails of puppies for cosmetic reasons.
However, there also were breeders who had stopped engaging in the practice years ago and who said they were happy it would be banned now.
Roger Bouton, a Rottweiler breeder from Port Elizabeth, said the SAVC's decision was "barking at the moon" and would cause "backyard vets" to dock the tails.
"If vets refuse to perform the operation, then I'll do it myself," he said.
Donné Lukas, a Dobermann breeder, agreed with Bouton and said the SAVC was taking things too far.
Dr Rian Mulder, a vet from Uitenhage, said, "Vets are between two fires now: perform the procedure and be prosecuted, or refuse and then the animal lands up in unqualified hands."
Ina Opperman reports that council's vice-chairperson, Dr Quixi Sonntag, said they did expect that people would perform the procedure themselves now, but hoped that these individuals would be reported to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), which would then be able to lay charges against them in terms of the Animal Protection Act.
Dogs which usually came under the knife include boxers, Dobermanns, Rottweilers, boerbulls and Jack Russells.
These breeds can be shown with their tails intact.