A TEN-year-ban on tail docking in Scotland will come to an end as the SNP Government votes to re-introduce the procedure.
The act of tail docking involves cutting off up to a third of a dog's tail, without the use of anasthetic, if a vet suspects that the animal may go on to be a working dog.
The amendment, which will reintroduce the pratice of shortening the tails of some breeds of dog up to 5 days old, was passed in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday.
The move has been widely opposed by vets and animal welfare charities, while those in favour say that it prevents working dogs from injury.
Green MSP Mark Ruskell stated: "Vets and animal welfare charities warned that this would be a retrograde step for Scotland, but callous SNP and Tory MSPs have endorsed this cruel and unnecessary practice. The painful docking of hundreds of puppies' tails just to avoid one amputation in an adult dog is anti-science and nothing more than a sop to vested interests.
"The Environment Secretary admitted to me that this policy has no veterinary support, and she admits that her research did not look at the impact on dogs' behaviour and communication. I'm sure many SNP supporters will be appalled by their MSPs' actions tonight."
Animal welfare charities condemned the move online following the vote which saw 86 vote in favour of the amendment which would allow the practice, and 29 against.
SNP MSP Emma Harper, who supported the decision, shared online following the vote that the decision had been made based on evidence.
The procedure had been outlawed in Scotland since 2007.
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