Why oh why is Scotland the only country in the UK to still have the ban on tail docking of working dogs?
Just back in from ferreting a plantation of young larch and scots pine trees. I am soaked to the skin and frozen. My daughter is visiting us with her boyfriend and I thought it would be a good chance for him to see some different animal tracks in the snow.
I am not a happy chappy. I was cutting old rabbit fences away this morning and my ear is bleeding profusely. I detest that high tensile wire; when you cut it with the wire cutters it goes off like a coiled spring. It felt like I had been shot in the ear.
Ten years of dogged campaigning by the SGA finally paid off this month when Scottish Natural Heritage announced new guidance which will help gamekeepers and other land managers apply for licences to control protected predators.
The announcement of the hard-won guidance was warmly welcomed by SGA chairman Alex Hogg who refused to let the issue rest even when it appeared that a stalemate had been reached.
