A welfare win for working dogs
Simon Hart | 17.03.2006 09:46
On Tuesday night MPs voted to ban the docking of dogs tails, but narrowly backed an exemption for working dogs that had been developed by the Government in consultation with the Alliance and other organisations.
It was anticipated that snaring and game rearing would also be debated, but time constraints meant they were not on the agenda.
As the Animal Welfare Bill now stands, a vet will have to certify that the dog to be docked is likely to work in security, search and rescue, pest control or lawful shooting activities later in life, and docked dogs will have to be identity chipped before three months of age. Defra have not yet announced the documentation that will be needed to support certification, but it may include the production of a firearms certificate or a counter signatory system similar to that for shotgun certificates. The Bill now goes to the Lords, so we have yet to see the finished product, but the Lords will now inherit a Bill that has incorporated the evidence put before the Commons from the rural lobby.
There could not be a better example of the importance of co-ordinated lobbying by a coalition of organisations. Our campaign revealed that, contrary to the claims of the animal rights lobby, there was no majority of public support for a total ban and there were senior vets who argued that the welfare of working dogs was best protected by allowing the practice to continue.
But this vote could not have been won without the input of thousands of ordinary working dog owners making the case to their MPs up and down the country. Constituency lobbying of MPs by the voters who elect them is always more effective than even the best Westminster lobbying operation.
The vote was, though, won by just 11 votes and the lesson for the shooting community is clear: lobbying and campaigning does work, but we must become more organised, motivated and effective to fight for shooting in Westminster and at constituency level.
The docking debate now moves to Scotland where a similar Animal Welfare Bill is before the Scottish Parliament. Unfortunately the Scottish Executive has backed itself into a corner and refused to consider an exemption for working dogs. An amendment is likely to be tabled by a backbench MSP. If this fails it will remain legal for a vet to dock a dog in England or Northern Ireland, but not in Scotland.
The Scottish Countryside Alliance will be continuing its high profile campaign to get MSPs to consider a sensible exemption, but if the votes of the many Scottish MPs who chose to vote on the Westminster are anything to go by we have an uphill task.
You may also have seen that the appeal on the Human Rights and European Law challenges began on Monday. The case will be completed on Tuesday or Wednesday and I will report back next week.
Simon Hart
As the Animal Welfare Bill now stands, a vet will have to certify that the dog to be docked is likely to work in security, search and rescue, pest control or lawful shooting activities later in life, and docked dogs will have to be identity chipped before three months of age. Defra have not yet announced the documentation that will be needed to support certification, but it may include the production of a firearms certificate or a counter signatory system similar to that for shotgun certificates. The Bill now goes to the Lords, so we have yet to see the finished product, but the Lords will now inherit a Bill that has incorporated the evidence put before the Commons from the rural lobby.
There could not be a better example of the importance of co-ordinated lobbying by a coalition of organisations. Our campaign revealed that, contrary to the claims of the animal rights lobby, there was no majority of public support for a total ban and there were senior vets who argued that the welfare of working dogs was best protected by allowing the practice to continue.
But this vote could not have been won without the input of thousands of ordinary working dog owners making the case to their MPs up and down the country. Constituency lobbying of MPs by the voters who elect them is always more effective than even the best Westminster lobbying operation.
The vote was, though, won by just 11 votes and the lesson for the shooting community is clear: lobbying and campaigning does work, but we must become more organised, motivated and effective to fight for shooting in Westminster and at constituency level.
The docking debate now moves to Scotland where a similar Animal Welfare Bill is before the Scottish Parliament. Unfortunately the Scottish Executive has backed itself into a corner and refused to consider an exemption for working dogs. An amendment is likely to be tabled by a backbench MSP. If this fails it will remain legal for a vet to dock a dog in England or Northern Ireland, but not in Scotland.
The Scottish Countryside Alliance will be continuing its high profile campaign to get MSPs to consider a sensible exemption, but if the votes of the many Scottish MPs who chose to vote on the Westminster are anything to go by we have an uphill task.
You may also have seen that the appeal on the Human Rights and European Law challenges began on Monday. The case will be completed on Tuesday or Wednesday and I will report back next week.
Simon Hart
Simon Hart
