Man fined for illegally docking puppy's tail in Donegal

A Donegal man who pleaded guilty at Letterkenny District Court today to illegally docking a puppy's tail has been ordered to pay a total of €605.

The ISPCA was alerted after Cathal Crawford of Ballyarrell, Killygordon, Co Donegal, attempted to place an online ad to sell the pup last March.

When an inspector and a Garda went to his home they found a three-month-old German Pointer puppy with a docked tail.

Docking of dogs tails is now an offence and most cases are carried out without veterinary supervision.

The dog was surrendered into the care of the ISPCA and subsequently rehomed.

Speaking on the outcome of the case ISPCA Inspector Kevin McGinley said: “The law has changed and people need to respect that fact. What may have been standard practice in the past is no longer permissible now”.

“A dog’s tail serves as a protective mechanism and part of various strategies used to communicate with one another, establish boundaries and to prevent aggressive encounters. Amputating the tail weakens the dog’s ability to communicate properly, leaving them vulnerable to being misunderstood by other dogs and humans and placing them at a distinct social disadvantage.”