Tail Docking Case.

[higgins 75]

in the paper today.....

here's the story;

 

 

Man in court for DIY tail-docking

Adam Derbyshire

February 05, 2009

 

 

A MAN used a Stanley knife and a bottle of antiseptic to dock the tails of five Jack Russell puppies at his home in Ashton.

 

Simon Kenyon, 25, illegally hacked off the tails of the pups, who were only a few days old, in a botched DIY operation on the kitchen table.

 

But the unemployed labourer butchered two of the dogs by mistakenly slicing through the vertebrae, which left the bone exposed, a court heard.

 

Kenyon, of Hartshead Avenue, Ashton claimed he had sold the pups to a farmer for £400 who wanted the tails docking first. He researched ways to perform the amputation on the internet before carrying out the crude surgery with the help of a pal.

 

Prosecuting, Michael Brady: “The friend, whom he’s always refused to name, held the dogs while the defendant used a Stanley blade and TCP to dock the tails.

 

“He said no distress was caused to the puppies but the prosecution says there must have been some distress caused as he had docked through the vertebrae on two of the dogs.â€

 

Kenyon was living at girlfriend Sheryl Beckwith’s home in Dean Street, Ashton at the time of the incident in July last year.

 

Acting on a tip-off, RSPCA inspector Vicki McDonald visited the property and interviewed both before taking the pups to be examined at a vets in Ashton.

 

Three of the dogs were rehomed immediately while the pair with injured backbones had to undergo surgery.

 

Kenyon was later charged with illegally docking tails while Miss Beckwith, who is seven months pregnant, was charged with "causing" the offence, effectively agreeing or allowing it to take place.

 

He admitted the charge before Tameside magistrates on Wednesday, but she was too ill to attend court, suffering from “stress and anxiety.â€

 

The charge against Miss Beckwith, 26, was dropped after she agreed to relinquish ownership of the remaining pups.

 

Mitigating, Mark Shepherd said: “He wasn’t aware tail docking was against the law. He feels there is a lack of publicity and is aware of the press attention.

 

“He hopes the publication of this case will prevent others from making the same mistake.

 

“While he was growing up, his father used Jack Russells for ratting and their tails were docked for the purposes of working.

 

“Had he taken the dogs to the vets, he no doubt would have told him not to dock the tails. He bitterly regrets his actions and says this is a lesson learnt.“

 

Magistrates adjourned the case until 25 February for reports, but told Kenyon to expect a community penalty.

 

It is understood to be the first case of its kind in the north west since tail docking was outlawed in England on 6 April 2007. Only certain working dogs, and those requiring it for medical treatment or exempt from the ban.

 

Critics say the practice is barbaric and painful, likening it to chopping off a baby’s finger, but supporters claim it is necessary for certain working breeds to avoid injury.

[bud9 79]

in the paper today.....

here's the story;

 

 

Man in court for DIY tail-docking

Adam Derbyshire

February 05, 2009

 

 

A MAN used a Stanley knife and a bottle of antiseptic to dock the tails of five Jack Russell puppies at his home in Ashton.

 

Simon Kenyon, 25, illegally hacked off the tails of the pups, who were only a few days old, in a botched DIY operation on the kitchen table.

 

But the unemployed labourer butchered two of the dogs by mistakenly slicing through the vertebrae, which left the bone exposed, a court heard.

 

Kenyon, of Hartshead Avenue, Ashton claimed he had sold the pups to a farmer for £400 who wanted the tails docking first. He researched ways to perform the amputation on the internet before carrying out the crude surgery with the help of a pal.

 

Prosecuting, Michael Brady: “The friend, whom he’s always refused to name, held the dogs while the defendant used a Stanley blade and TCP to dock the tails.

 

“He said no distress was caused to the puppies but the prosecution says there must have been some distress caused as he had docked through the vertebrae on two of the dogs.â€

 

Kenyon was living at girlfriend Sheryl Beckwith’s home in Dean Street, Ashton at the time of the incident in July last year.

 

Acting on a tip-off, RSPCA inspector Vicki McDonald visited the property and interviewed both before taking the pups to be examined at a vets in Ashton.

 

Three of the dogs were rehomed immediately while the pair with injured backbones had to undergo surgery.

 

Kenyon was later charged with illegally docking tails while Miss Beckwith, who is seven months pregnant, was charged with "causing" the offence, effectively agreeing or allowing it to take place.

 

He admitted the charge before Tameside magistrates on Wednesday, but she was too ill to attend court, suffering from “stress and anxiety.â€

 

The charge against Miss Beckwith, 26, was dropped after she agreed to relinquish ownership of the remaining pups.

 

Mitigating, Mark Shepherd said: “He wasn’t aware tail docking was against the law. He feels there is a lack of publicity and is aware of the press attention.

 

“He hopes the publication of this case will prevent others from making the same mistake.

 

“While he was growing up, his father used Jack Russells for ratting and their tails were docked for the purposes of working.

 

“Had he taken the dogs to the vets, he no doubt would have told him not to dock the tails. He bitterly regrets his actions and says this is a lesson learnt.“

 

Magistrates adjourned the case until 25 February for reports, but told Kenyon to expect a community penalty.

 

It is understood to be the first case of its kind in the north west since tail docking was outlawed in England on 6 April 2007. Only certain working dogs, and those requiring it for medical treatment or exempt from the ban.

 

Critics say the practice is barbaric and painful, likening it to chopping off a baby’s finger, but supporters claim it is necessary for certain working breeds to avoid injury.

a think the law on tail docking is a joke who realy wants a terrier with a long tail

[terrier.2 123]

it dont matter wether you want a terrier with a long tail ,its the propaganda they use to describe it ,ie barbaric,mutilation that turns joe public agaisnt it.in reality now we have to take them to the vets to be legally docked, causes umpteens more times stress on them,being removed from the mother etc.home done job is over in seconds and hardly a peep out of them and straight back on the teat

Edited March 6, 2009 by terrier.2

[Kenny.B 1]

Sounds like typical media exageration, and a well knowen authority intafering again..........

[Guest jt750]

Its been reported in the worst possible way but if you just read the story ..stanley knife ..tcp ...friend held puppies..info off the internet ...Its not too good. And against the law of course

[GameBirdMeg 21]

A friend of mines fella has a rottwieler which is his guard dog and i went round a couple of weeks ago to see her and saw the docked tail on this dog and well...it doesn't have a tail full stop. I'm suprised whoever did that one never caused the dog harm. All our terriers are docked for working purposes and completely agree that the article is very well worded to increase the general public to be anti docking.

[aaron01 737]

Next thing you will not be able to walk a dog with a docked tail without a fear of being reported its bad enough as it is having to keep your workers hidden from public view i for one am sick off it