断尾: the law by country

By a vet (S.I. 304/2017 removed vet nurses), on a pointer, spaniel or terrier or combination, not yet 8 days old, with the dam or proof of her death, on evidence of use in lawful pest control, hunting or shooting; declaration and microchip.

AVMA: no federal restrictions on tail docking exist in the United States, and the vast majority of states have no prohibitions. State rules are in the state rows.

A misdemeanor to cut the solid part of a horse's tail, to import any docked horse, or to drive, work, race or deal in an unregistered docked horse, except as s.597r provides for imported stock. The section also covers cattle.

A registered veterinarian may operate when necessary for the horse's health or to effect the natural carriage of its tail. Up to $300, one year, or both.

Class A misdemeanor to cut the solid part of the tail, unless proved to be a benefit to the horse.

Only a licensed veterinarian, using anesthesia when appropriate. Misdemeanor.

Up to one year or $100 to $300. Section 79B bars showing such a horse at a horse show in the state unless the owner swears it was cut where that was legal. An unhealed wound is prima facie evidence.

Allowed when a veterinary surgeon's certificate is first obtained that cutting the tail bone is necessary for the horse's health or safety. Misdemeanor, up to one year or $1,000.

Misdemeanor to cut the bony part of the tail, or knowingly permit it on one's premises. An unhealed wound is prima facie evidence. No exemption in the text.

A licensed veterinarian may do it only with written permission from the state veterinarian. Misdemeanor.

Misdemeanor to cut or operate on the tail to dock it or alter its carriage. Showing such a horse is a misdemeanor unless an affidavit says the cutting predates June 1, 1964 or was done where it was not then prohibited.

Owners and keepers may not cut or amputate the tail to shorten it, unless needed because of accident, malformation or disease or as a preventive measure against injury, by a licensed veterinarian. Official code site could not be opened from here; text read at FindLaw, shown as current to 2026-01-01.

An offense on a dog over five days old. A licensed veterinarian may dock at 12 weeks or older under general anesthesia, or between five days and 12 weeks if medically necessary. Whoever procures it must keep a record until the wound heals.

Misdemeanor on a dog seven days old or older, or that has opened its eyes, whichever is sooner, unless done by a licensed veterinarian using accepted surgical protocols.

Misdemeanor to cut the solid part of the tail in docking or any other operation to shorten it or change its carriage. No exemption in the text.

Medical treatment, or a certified working dog not more than 5 days old: a vet certifies likely work in law enforcement, the armed forces, emergency rescue, lawful pest control or lawful shooting; hunt point retrieve, spaniel or terrier types and combinations; microchip identification. Showing at a paid-admission event is an offence, unless shown only to demonstrate working ability. Import: the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 (c. 30) requires future regulations to prohibit bringing in mutilated dogs and cats; the enacted text shows only a power, commenced by regulations, and no commencement was confirmed.

No tail procedure is listed for horses in Schedules 1 or 7; medical treatment is outside the offence.

Medical treatment by a vet; immediate danger to life where a vet is not practicable; or a certified working dog not more than 5 days old, whose dam is of a Schedule 1 breed, likely used in law enforcement, lawful pest control or lawful shooting; identified before 8 weeks. Showing at a fee-paying event is an offence unless a certified dog shows working ability. Taking a dog out of NI for docking is an offence.

Since 28 June 2017: spaniel or hunt point retrieve types of any breed or mix, 5 days old or younger, by a vet only, at most the end third of the tail, on evidence of likely work in lawful shooting, with a signed certificate and microchip details. Medical treatment is outside the offence. Import: the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 (c. 30) requires future regulations to prohibit bringing in mutilated dogs and cats; the enacted text shows only a power, commenced by regulations, and no commencement was confirmed.

Schedule 6 (equine animals) lists no tail docking; medical treatment is outside the offence.

Medical treatment, or a certified working dog not more than 5 days old. Narrower than England: named spaniels (English Springer, Welsh Springer, Cocker), terriers (Jack Russell, Cairn, Lakeland, Norfolk) and listed hunt point retrievers; combination breeds do not qualify. Work: law enforcement, armed forces, emergency rescue, lawful pest control or shooting. Showing at a paid-admission event is an offence (s.6(9)). The regulations give both 28 and 29 March 2007 as the commencement date.

Schedule 7 lists no tail procedure; medical treatment is outside the offence.

Ministry note, as quoted in a letter from the kennel body ENCI: a vet may dock preventively dogs used in certain working or sporting-hunting activities, under anaesthesia, within the first week of life, with a certificate of the reasons. The statute text itself could not be opened; Normattiva confirmed the in-force date only.

Except breeds recognised by the FCI whose standard provides for docking; by a vet with a certificate, within the first week of life.

Banned since 1 January 2001, only on medical indication; the person performing it is fined. The agency page cites no section numbers; the statute itself could not be opened (Riigi Teataja needs a script-enabled browser), so check the current wording.

Non-vets may not perform surgical procedures; a veterinary practitioner may dock a dog's tail only for a therapeutic purpose.

Only a veterinary practitioner, and only in the interests of the dog's welfare. No section number on the department's page. A Bill of May 2026 would reorganise s 12; we could not confirm it passed.

Written for any animal. A veterinarian only, believing on reasonable grounds it is a reasonable and necessary therapeutic measure. Up to 300 penalty units or 3 years. The national Sheep Standards are not adopted in the NT.

A veterinary surgeon only, who reasonably considers it in the dog's welfare. Supplying a docked dog needs a vet's certificate, except for an abandoned dog surrendered to a pound or shelter.

A veterinary surgeon only, who reasonably considers it in the animal's welfare. Supplying a docked horse needs a vet's certificate.

A veterinary surgeon only, satisfied it is required for therapeutic purposes. The Animal Welfare Act 2025 (SA), not in operation on 2026-11-04, will repeal these regulations when it starts.

Ill treatment unless a veterinary surgeon has certified in writing that it is necessary for the control of disease. The Animal Welfare Act 2025 (SA), not in operation on 2026-11-04, will repeal these regulations when it starts.

A veterinary surgeon only, using anaesthesia, for therapeutic purposes (treating a disease or medical condition). Causing or permitting docking is caught too. The date is this instrument's; earlier regulations held a similar rule.

Dogs and horses. A veterinary practitioner only, for a therapeutic effect. An owner must not allow it, or show or exhibit the animal, unless it was done before the ban or lawfully in another jurisdiction on an animal never resident in Victoria.

A veterinarian only, and only where clinically indicated to cure or alleviate a disease or injury of the dog. Read on the compilation as at 2022-06-18, the newest we could reach; check for a later one.

Exceptions only where indispensable for the intended use or for protecting the animal or others, or to prevent reproduction, as set by regulation under s.24; painful procedures need anaesthesia and aftercare. Non-farm animals born after 1 January 2008 with such procedures may not be imported, acquired, brokered, passed on (s.8(3)) or exhibited (s.8b(2)); taking one abroad for it is prohibited.

Banned except on a vet's finding of medical necessity, recorded in a vet's statement. Cropped dogs may not enter shows, inspections or competitions, even if cropped abroad; organisers may not admit dogs cropped after 1 December 2016; trade in cropped animals is not allowed. A draft decree of December 2025 widens the rule, target 1 January 2027; not checked as adopted.

National Farm Animal Care Council Code of Practice: an industry code, not a statute. NFACC says Code requirements are not explicitly binding in most provinces but can be evidence of distress. Referred to in provincial law: adopted in NL (NLR 36/12; NLR 35/12 s.15 makes a practice a code prohibits a prohibited one), prescribed in SK (Reg 1 s.3-4), named as a defence in NB (Reg 2000-4 s.4(2), Sch A) and BC (B.C. Reg. 34/2019, as generally accepted practice), accepted in NS (Act s.28(b)). Docking for cosmetic purposes must not be performed.

Professional rule, not a statute: binds CVBC registrants (veterinarians) only, not other people. Dogs, horses and cattle; only to treat an injury or disease.

Professional rule, not a statute: binds MVMA members only, not other people. Bars cosmetic docking of dogs.

Allowed if a code adopted in the Animal Protection Standards Regulations permits it for that animal, or if a veterinarian removes the tail after an injury or for other medical necessity.

A veterinarian may remove the tail after an injury or for other medical necessity.

Allowed when a veterinarian operates to treat an injury or disease or for other medical reasons necessary or beneficial to the animal's health (s.28(a)), and for agricultural practices in line with the NFACC codes or other prescribed codes (s.28(b)). Applies to any person, not only veterinarians.

Allowed when a veterinarian operates to treat an injury or for other medical reasons beneficial to the animal's health (s.6(3)). Reasonable and generally accepted agricultural practices are outside the Act (s.7). The vets' own PEIVMA Bylaws s.25.2.7 also call this cosmetic surgery unprofessional conduct.

Prohibited unless a veterinary surgeon recommends it for therapeutic reasons. Binds owners and custodians, and persons in veterinary medicine for this section (s.2). Covers domestic companion animals: cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, companion pigs. The section sits in the companion-animal chapter; horses are not covered by it.

Surgery to change appearance or for other non-therapeutic purposes is banned, in particular these; except where a vet deems it necessary for veterinary reasons or for the benefit of a specific animal and documents it in writing, or to prevent reproduction. Does not displace the pig, laying hen and broiler regulations.

Read as non-therapeutic mutilation (akrotiriasmos), which the article bans as torture; neutering and any veterinary act with a therapeutic aim are not mutilation. The article does not name this procedure.

The enacted NN 102/17 text could not be opened: read from the Government's final bill of 2017, so wording may differ. Exceptions: veterinary health reasons, reproduction control and similar with anaesthesia and analgesia; zootechnical purposes, including for hunting dogs under kennel standards.

The Board of Agriculture states that docking tails is banned in Sweden. Operative procedures are banned unless justified by veterinary medical reasons; the Board of Agriculture may make exceptions.

All mutilation and permanent body modification is banned, except therapeutic need or limiting reproduction, and ear-marking community cats. Art. 1.3 excludes hunting dogs, packs and hunting auxiliaries from this Act.

Mutilation, including to keep breed or aesthetic traits, is banned; except medical-surgical reasons, sterilisation, functional need or future benefit to the animal, prescribed and done by a vet.

Mutilation for aesthetic reasons is banned; a vet may intervene for therapeutic need or functional requirement, painlessly under general anaesthesia.

Not cruelty if done in line with recognised breed standards up to 14 days of age. Version of 1 January 2022; a 2025 amendment (307/2025) exists and was not checked.

Unless a vet's expert opinion finds it in the animal's interest and a vet does it. Consolidated text of 2013; later amendments up to ZZZiv-G of 2025 were not checked.

Excepted from the anaesthesia rule for puppies under 8 days when done by a person qualified under the veterinary law; the s.3 definition of cropping covers ears only. Text read on a legal publisher's copy of Act 246/1992 Sb. (last amended 1 April 2025), not the official collection.

Veterinary grounds, or puppies at most 4 days old of pedigree parents of five breeds: German Wirehaired Pointer, German Shorthaired Pointer, Weimaraner, Vizsla, Brittany. By a vet, anaesthetic and prolonged pain relief. Docked dogs may not be exhibited, except those s.10 dogs. Earlier orders held the same rule.

Veterinary indication, or dogs to be used for hunting where indispensable and no veterinary objection; by a vet or, as the Act allows, another qualified person. Unlawfully docked dogs may not be shown (HundeV s.10). TierSchG s.12(2) only authorises a future import rule.

Amputating body parts is banned, except on veterinary indication or the other s.6(1) cases.

Defence only for a veterinarian, or a veterinary student directly supervised throughout, docking for therapeutic purposes with pain relief given at the time. Owners and persons in charge must not allow docking. Fine up to NZ$3,000 (body corporate NZ$15,000).

Covers all equids. Defence only for a veterinarian, or a veterinary student directly supervised throughout, docking for therapeutic purposes with pain relief given at the time. Fine up to NZ$3,000 (body corporate NZ$15,000).

Docking to change a dog's appearance may be done up to 7 days of age.

Always prohibited. The Food Authority's FAQ page adds that docked dogs may not enter any show, competition or test, official or not; the question put to it concerns dogs imported from abroad too.

Tail docking is expressly excepted from the ban on non-curative surgery on companion animals.

Tail docking to change the animal's appearance. Listed as cruelty to animals. Text read is a municipal copy consolidated to State Gazette no. 53 of 2014; later amendments not checked.

Banned since 2001; allowed for veterinary reasons, disease control, integration into a business, or limiting reproduction. Animals with the procedure, even done where it is legal, may not be sold or enter shows, unless done before the ban. Agency page dated 5 May 2020.

Removing sensitive body parts of a vertebrate is banned, except veterinary necessity, compulsory disease control, or use and reproduction control on the Flemish Government's list (not opened). No one may enter or admit an animal with a banned procedure to a show, inspection or competition.

Art. D.36 bans the intervention, subject to its exceptions. Art. D.38: a horse or dog with an amputated tail or ears may not be entered or admitted to shows or competitions, except animals operated on before the decree. The Court judgment was opened, not the Code itself.

Art. D.36 bans the intervention, subject to its exceptions. Art. D.38: a horse or dog with an amputated tail or ears may not be entered or admitted to shows or competitions, except animals operated on before the decree. The Court judgment was opened, not the Code itself.

Docking dogs' tails is named as cruelty unless done to save the animal's health or life. Confirmed by the Agriculture Ministry's reply of 24 October 2024.

Docking of canids must be done by a vet. Read in the original 2001 text; later amendments (2003, 2012 and on) could not be opened, so check the current wording.

Surgery to modify appearance that removes or damages a body part, other than for a curative purpose, is illegal unless regulations prescribe otherwise. Such animals may not enter shows or competitions, be kept in stock, sold or bought. Art. 9 as amended by Act XXXV of 2014. Version of 3 December 2024, marked as not the latest; regulations under art. 9 not opened.

Surgery to change a pet's appearance or for other non-therapeutic aims is banned unless a practising vet prescribes it. A practising vet may dock wire and smooth fox terriers, Russian hunting spaniels, German wirehaired and shorthaired pointers, German hunt terriers and Welsh terriers. Art. 4.1 bars such pets from competitions, markets, auctions and public exhibitions, except with a vet's record of need, permitted-breed docking, or origin in a country where it is lawful.

A VMVT notice reprinted in the press; the statute could not be opened. Since 1 November 2024 animals with banned veterinary procedures may not be shown at events; illegal docking of a pet counts as cruelty.

Non-therapeutic surgery to change an animal's appearance is banned, and is an offence punishable by 6 months to 3 years or a fine (added by amendment in force 19 May 2022).

An animal may be amputated only on veterinary indications or imperative zootechnical grounds, set by Grand-Ducal regulation (not opened). Keeping and selling animals amputated in breach is banned; animals amputated before the Act may be kept until death.