Veterinarians in Manitoba will no longer be allowed to perform tail docking on dogs after an overwhelming vote by members of the Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA). The decision came during the association’s recent annual general meeting, where a bylaw amendment was passed to immediately prohibit the controversial practice.

As per CBC News, the amendment follows a multi-year consultation process involving various stakeholders. The decision was driven by the consensus among veterinary professionals that tail docking is unnecessary for most dogs, particularly since many of them are not working dogs that might risk injuring their tails.

Tail docking has historically been done for cosmetic reasons or to adhere to breed standards, with some believing that certain breeds, even those not working, should still have docked tails. However, the practice has been increasingly questioned. The Canadian Kennel Club does not require tail docking for breed competitions, allowing for choice regarding dogs that have traditionally been docked for functional purposes.

While the new regulation prevents veterinarians from performing tail docking, breeders in Manitoba are still permitted to continue the practice. Some animal rights organizations, like Animal Justice, however, are calling for changes to the province’s laws to prevent breeders from doing so.