Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS (DOCKING OF WORKING DOGS’ TAILS AND MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2012 (S.R. 2012 NO. 387)

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has made a Statutory Rule entitled “The Welfare of Animals (Docking of Working Dogs’ Tails and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012” (S.R. 2012 No. 387), which comes into operation on 1st January 2013.

The Welfare of Animals (Docking of Working Dogs’ Tails and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 provides an exemption for certain working dogs from the prohibition of the removal of the whole or any part of a dog’s tail, otherwise than for the purpose of medical treatment.

The Regulations set out the requirements to be observed before a veterinary surgeon may certify that the dog is a working dog and the Schedule specifies the breeds of dog that may be certified.

Copies of the Rule may be purchased from the Stationery Office at www.tsoshop.co.uk or by contacting TSO Customer Services on 0870 600 5522 or viewed online at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr.