SPCA New Zealand
Animal Advocacy

Position Statements

Tail Docking (Companion)

SPCA opposes the prophylactic and cosmetic docking and banding of dogs’ tails.

Our organisation supports the amputation of dog’s tails for therapeutic reasons only (the shortening of tails for therapeutic reasons is referred to as amputation, not docking). In such circumstances, the amputation must be carried out by a veterinarian, or a veterinary student under the direct supervision of a veterinarian, and adequate and appropriate medical care must be provided prior to, during, and after the operation and include anaesthesia and analgesia.

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