Cruelty towards dogs

If you think a dog is being treated cruelly or neglected by its owner, contact the PSNI, who are responsible for enforcing the relevant laws.

Removal of dogs tails (tail docking)

Removing a dogs tail, or part of a dogs tail, is known as 'tail docking'. It is only permitted when it is carried out by a veterinary surgeon. An anaesthetic must be used if the tail is removed after the pup’s eyes are open. It is an offence under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, as amended, for an unqualified person to carry out tail docking of dogs.

It is proposed, under new animal welfare legislation, to ban the removal of all of a dog's tail, unless it is for a therapeutic reason. It is also proposed to make it an offence to take a dog to another jurisdiction to have the operation carried out.