PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS REGULATION 2012 - REG 21 Debarking

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS REGULATION 2012 - REG 21

21 Debarking

(cf clause 7 2006 Reg)

(1) For the purposes of section 12 (2) of the Act, the circumstances in which a veterinary practitioner may operate on a dog for the purpose of preventing the dog from being able to bark are that, prior to performing the operation, the veterinary practitioner is provided with--

(a) a copy of an order issued under section 21 of the Companion Animals Act 1998 requiring the owner of the dog (whether or not the existing owner) to prevent it from engaging in nuisance barking, and

(b) a statutory declaration by the owner of the dog to the effect of the following--

(i) all reasonable steps other than the operation, such as behavioural training or caging of the dog, have been taken, without success, to prevent the dog engaging in nuisance barking, and

(ii) unless the operation is performed, the dog will be destroyed.

(2) In this clause,
"nuisance barking" means barking or howling that is persistent or continues to such a degree or extent that it unreasonably interferes with the peace, comfort or convenience of any person in premises other than the premises at which the dog is ordinarily kept.