Ban all forms of animal mutilation unless required for essential veterinary care

Background

We urge the UK Government to ban all forms of animal mutilation done for non-medical reasons, including ear cropping, tail docking, debeaking, dehorning, and tooth clipping unless required for essential veterinary care.

Additional details

Animals should not undergo painful or distressing procedures for convenience, or production efficiency. While UK law bans many mutilations, others remain not only legal but the standard practice, especially in farming, breeding, and imports. Protecting animals aligns with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the UK’s duty to recognize animals as sentient and lead in compassionate, science-based welfare.

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