Working terrier welfare protected with new law.
MINISTER COVENEY SIGNS COMMENCEMENT ORDER FOR ANIMAL HEALTH & WELFARE ACT 2013
Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine announced today that he has signed the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (Commencement) Order 2014 which brings into operation the core elements of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. Making this announcement, Minister Coveney said “The Animal Health and Welfare Act is an important piece of legislation, bringing together and modernising many existing laws in the area of animal health and welfare and I am delighted to bring it into effect. Given that the Protection of Animals Act dates from 1911 and the Diseases of Animals Act dates from 1966, there is an obvious need to make our animal health and welfare law fit for purpose in the 21st Century. This was a major priority for me and I am very pleased that this Act is now in place’’. The Prohibition on Tail Docking and Dew Claws (Dogs) Regulations 2014 will regulate the limited circumstances under which a dog may have its tail docked or dew claws removed. Under the Act, tail docking of dogs for cosmetic purposes is being banned outright, a move that will cover most dogs in the country. A move which the Federation support, Tail docking and dew claw removal will be permitted in very limited cases, basically for specific hunting breeds (pointer/retrievers, spaniels and terriers) where there is evidence that the individual dog will be used for that specific purpose. Where tail docking and dew claw removal is to be allowed it will only be permissible for a veterinarian or veterinary nurse to do so. Further research is ongoing in this area and the Minister will take account of scientific recommendations going forward. Our dealings with the Department of Agriculture have given us an insight in the working of this body. The professionalism and balanced approach that the Minister and his officials extended to the federation was generous and appreciated. We believe that a mutually beneficial exchange of views regarding working terriers has produced a law which is practical and realistic. A similar law exists in Northern Ireland.
