An Angus field sportsman has backed national calls to lift a ban on docking working dogs’ tails after his canine was injured.
Farmer David Warden (41), from North Mains of Dun, near Montrose, has written to Angus and Mearns MSP Nigel Don after an incident during a December shoot which saw his cocker spaniel Berry suffer damage to its tail.
The subsequent bill from Abbey Vets in Arbroath was £300, and Mr Warden claimed two other dogs also required treatment that day.
He said: “I am a keen field sportsman and enjoy working my spaniel dogs. I was at a shoot recently in Angus which had eight working spaniels, five with docked tails which sustained no damage and three spaniels with full undocked tails which sustained burst, bleeding tails and required vet treatment.
“My own dog was one of those not allowed to be docked as he was born after 2007 and he has now had to go through major surgery to dock his tail with an expense of £300 to myself. The other owner paid for treatments then the tail got gangrene and the vet bill was in excess of £500.”
Mr Warden said lifting the current docking ban would allow working dogs to have their tails snipped at two days old with “minimal pain and expense”.
Berry has been unable to work since the December shoot and the two-year-old dog is still receiving treatment.
Legislation on docking is different in England and Wales and a campaign has been led by the Scottish Gamekeepers Association to reverse the ruling.
Mr Don said: “Whilst I have a lot of sympathy for the plight of working dogs and sense the frustration of their owners, it is clear that the Royal College of veterinary Surgeons believe tail docking should not be allowed for anything other than medical reasons.
“I note that the legislation is different in England and Wales and wonder whether the Scottish Government should reconsider the case for working dogs in Scotland.”
Scottish Gamekeepers Association chairman Alex Hogg claims more working dogs have been forced to have their tails amputated after suffering severe injuries since the ban was brought in during 2007.
About five years ago, First Minister Alex Salmond pledged the ban would be revoked if there was evidence to support such a move.
Despite promising the results of a Glasgow University Veterinary School study would be available by the end of last year, there has been no further movement.