Wikipedia is full of the most annoying lies about people: I suppose when you have a free encyclopaedia, then vested interests sit on the computer and write as much rubbish as they can about their target. I know that after I read nonsense about me. I complained and changed it but it has been changed back so many times that I give up. 

I stopped looking at Wikipedia as a source of information. A friend has sent me a piece he came across in Wikipedia about tail docking of dogs. Since it does not involve a person, its information is correct. But what is interesting is the chart of the countries. All the civilized countries on one side and the rest on the other!

Docking is the removal of portions of an animal's tail. Tail docking occurs in one of two ways. The first involves constricting the blood supply to the tail with a rubber ligature for a few days until the tail falls off. The second involves the cutting of the tail with scissors or a scalpel. Both are very painful. Docking to puppies fewer than 10 to 14 days old was/is carried out by both breeders and veterinarians without anaesthesia.

It began in the United Kingdom in the most bizarre way. King Canute ordered that the forests were only to be hunted in by royalty. Since hunting was done by dogs, to make sure that there was no confusion, poor people’s dogs were ordered to have their tails cut so that if caught hunting, punishments could be given. This was in 1030, a thousand years ago. But did the practice die with time? No. The reasons continued to be bizarre.

I have just read about an Indian child that had pneumonia and was branded 27 times before it died – branding supposedly being a cure for many diseases. Likewise : over the centuries  tail docking was thought to prevent rabies, strengthen the back, increase the animal's speed, and prevent injuries when hunting rats and fighting other dogs and bears , vicious games that the British loved and which they introduced to the rest of the world. In early Georgian times, 1714 onwards, in the United Kingdom a tax was levied upon working dogs with tails and many types of dogs were docked to differentiate them as pet dogs and avoid this tax. The tax was repealed in 1796 but the docking continued.

The 19th Century invented other reasons to mutilate the tail : to protect dogs that worked in the field, such as hunting  and herding . Tails, it was claimed, could collect burrs and cause pain and infection and, due to their wagging, could get injured while moving through dense brush. Tails with long fur could collect faeces and become a cleanliness problem. By the 20th Century Kennel Clubs, dog shows and breeders had become institutionalized and had stopped giving any reason. Some breeds had to have their tails cut off. Not some hunting or working dogs, even show dogs like poodles and pet dogs. No reason or rationale for the breeds chosen for mutilation. Otherwise they would not be admitted into dog shows.

The American breed standard recommended that an undocked tail be "severely penalized." The AKC position is that ear cropping and tail docking are "acceptable practices integral to defining and preserving breed character.” How is a breed defined by having parts of it cut off?

All studies show that docking tails puts dogs at a disadvantage in several ways. First, dogs use their tails to communicate with other dogs and people; a dog without a tail is significantly handicapped in conveying fear, caution, aggression, playfulness. Certain breeds use their tails as rudders when swimming, and for balance when running, so active dogs with docked tails might be at a disadvantage. Dogs with docked tails would be approached with caution by other dogs as one part of the dog’s communication of his emotional mood is through the tail. Dogs with docked tails grow up to be more aggressive, and anti-social.

Today many countries ban cropping and docking because they consider the practices unnecessary, painful, cruel or mutilation. In Europe, the cropping of ears is prohibited in all countries that have ratified the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons in the United Kingdom said that they consider tail docking to be "an unjustified mutilation and unethical unless done for therapeutic or acceptable prophylactic reasons".

In March 2006 an amendment was made to the Animal Welfare Bill that makes the docking of dogs' tails illegal, except for working dogs such as those used by the police force, the military, rescue services, pest control, and those used in connection with lawful animal shooting. Parliament voted a majority of 476 to 63. Those found guilty of unlawful docking would face a fine of up to £20,000, up to 51 weeks of imprisonment or both. In Scotland docking of any breed is illegal. The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 contains provisions prohibiting the mutilation of domesticated animals. It is completely banned in India.  In fact we were the first to ban it in 1960 but no one adhered to the ban and the Kennel Club continued its unethical practices, slavishly following the British.

Now that the British have banned it, they are more amenable to reason. But they have just received a very stern letter from the Veterinary Council of India and the Animal Welfare Board of India that no dogs will have their tails docked at any shows and any vets doing so will lose their licence. If you know of any breeders or vets doing this, let me know and we will immediately take action.

Countries that have banned it: Australia (2004), Austria (2005), Belgium (2006), Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Canada (Banned in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia), Cyprus (1991), Czech Republic, Denmark (1996), England (2006), Estonia (2001), Finland (1996), France (2003), Germany(1998), Greece (1991), Iceland (2001), Israel (2000), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg (1991), Netherlands (2001), Norway (1987), Poland (1997), Slovakia (2003), Slovenia (2007), South Africa (2007), Spain (banned in some autonomies), Northern Ireland (Ear Cropping Illegal). Welfare of Animals Bill progressing through the Northern Ireland Assembly proposes an outright ban on tail docking), Sweden (1989), Switzerland (1981 for ears and 1988 for tail), Turkey 2004, Virgin Islands (2005).

The biggest problem is the United States. New York and Vermont are thinking of banning but, as in most areas of stopping unnecessary violence, the United States will be the last.

Maneka Gandhi

To join the animal welfare movement contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.