CONVICTED (2014) | Walter Roger Doe, born c. 1989, of Batts Bridge Caravan Park, Batts Bridge Road, Maresfield, Uckfield TN22 2HN – illegally docked the tail of a Jack Russell puppy.
Doe, a traveller, left the tiny pup in ‘excruciating pain’ after using a sharp tool to remove his tail two inches from its base.
The RSPCA removed the black and white puppy, named Jack, from Doe’s care in July 2013 following a report of concern for the animal’s welfare.
They found Jack with a bandage around his tail and in obvious pain.
The puppy was taken to a vet who removed the bandage and found a very raw wound, about two inches from the tail base, with the rest of the tail removed.
Career criminal Doe, whose convictions included theft and domestic violence, was sent to jail for 12 weeks for causing unnecessary suffering to the puppy and failing to seek veterinary treatment for his open wound.
Speaking after the sentencing, RSPCA Inspector Andrew Kirby said: ‘The prison sentence reflects how seriously the court took the suffering caused to the puppy.
He added: “The vet said it was a very clean-cut wound and must have been made with a sharp tool.”
‘We have no proof about what was used to dock Jack’s tail but, whether it was a knife or a pair of scissors, he would have been in agony.
‘Cutting through the bone of the tail must have been excruciatingly painful and no attempt at all was made to relieve this pain.
‘Tail docking is such a brutal way to treat a young animal in any case.’
Sentencing | 12 weeks’ imprisonment. Banned from keeping animals for 10 years (expires April 2024).
Vets are allowed to do this for some Working Breeds of Dogs.
Therefore there is no excuse for this.
This also should be done in their first week of life.
As they get older the Tail becomes part of their spine.
This would have been very painful.