A Barrydale man has been fined for trying to dock his dog's tail by tying an elastic band around it tightly.
|||Cape Town - Authorities are cracking down on acts of cruelty against animals, with a Barrydale man becoming the latest person to be fined for trying to dock his dog’s tail by tying an elastic band around it tightly.
John Klaassen was fined R1 000 after pleading guilty to contravening the Animal Protection Act.
The controversial practice of tail docking has been outlawed since 2008 and is banned in several countries.
According to the South African Veterinary Council, vets who perform tail docking, unless for justifiable medical reasons, can be prosecuted under the Animal Protection Act, and those found guilty investigated for unprofessional conduct.
Docking of puppies under two weeks is usually carried out by breeders and veterinarians without anaesthesia. The procedure involves severing the lower part of the spine.
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said research has shown that tail docking is a painful and traumatic experience for a puppy, even if performed under local anaesthetic.
Dee Hazell, an inspector with the Karoo Animal Protection Society (KAPS) said Klaassen, the owner of the dog, had previously been given a warning for chaining the Boerboel cross to a peg. An elastic band around its tail was noticed on a follow up visit.
In Hazell’s report, she noted: “He was strutting around on stiff legs, with his back arched and his tail tucked between his back legs. He was whining and seemed preoccupied with his tail. He was uncomfortable and found it painful to either lie down or sit.”
The tail was rotting but still firmly attached and the dog had to be put down to prevent further suffering.
A criminal case was opened with the Barrydale police. Confirmation was received that Klaassen had pleaded guilty and received a fine.
KAPS chairwoman Colette Teale said staff regularly found young dogs and puppies with docked tails, as well as dogs with cropped ears. She said it was time that South African breed societies excluded “cosmetically altered animals” from competing in events to help end the practice.
Marilize Nel, spokeswoman for the Kennel Union of South Africa (Kusa), said it was “illegal for vets to dock tails, but not to have a dog with a docked tail”.
She added that some breed standards still called for docked tails although others allowed docked and natural tails.
Nel said Kusa’s position was that it was preferable to leave a tail undocked.
However, Nel said that should a dog’s tail be injured, or if the owner really wants it docked, then the owner should approach a vet to have it removed.
helen.bamford@inl.co.za
Cape Argus
