Chairmans Blog

January 25th

Why oh why is Scotland the only country in the UK to still have the ban on tail docking of working dogs?

December 20th

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.

December 9th

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.

New evidence supports return of tail docking

The Scottish Government's Rural Affairs secretary Richard Lochhead has called on interested parties to comment on the recent University of Bristol report which showed that the ban on tail docking was having an impact on the health and welfare of working dogs.

The SGA will be responding but we'd also encourage as many people as possible to make their views known. The email address for comments is animal.health@scotland.gsi.gov.uk 

The report can be viewed at:

http://www.cdb.org/News/Veterinary%Record%20tail%20damage%20report%20201...

First Minister Alex Salmond promised at the SGA annual meeting in 2007 that he would act on information which indicated the ban on tail docking was having an impact on the wellbeing of working dogs. SGA CHairman Alex Hogg said: "We now have the evidence he called for. We will hold him to his promise."