A MAN who cut the tails off five puppies with a pair of scissors has narrowly avoided a prison sentence.

Daniel Thomas Lannen, 32, of Sandwath Drive, Church Fenton, pleaded guilty to removing a dog’s tail for a purpose other than for the animal’s medical treatment, and causing unnecessary suffering to five Jack Russell puppies when they were about two weeks old.

The offences took place some time between November 1 and January 13.

Selby Magistrates’ Court heard the statement of local vet Natasha Forret, who saw one of the puppies, Sally, when it was taken for its injections by its new owner.

She said: “At two weeks of age the pup would have had a well-developed nervous system and it would, as a result of this mutilation, have been caused extreme pain and suffering.”

Harry Bayman, for Lannen, told the court that Lannen had not realised that docking dogs’ tails was now illegal unless carried out by a vet for health reasons or, for example, if the animal was to be used as a working dog. Sentencing Lannen, Wendy Bromwich, chairwoman of the bench, told him he had come extremely close to being jailed.

Lannen was given a 16-week night-time curfew, banned from keeping dogs or cats for ten years and must pay £889.70 prosecution costs.

Tail ban hits show

THE docking of dogs’ tails for cosmetic reasons was banned in England and Wales in 2006.

Exemptions are in place for working dogs, but only a vet can perform the procedure and it must be carried out before the dog is five days old. The docking ban has hit this year’s Great Yorkshire Show. The terrier classes have been cancelled because the Animal Welfare Act, under which the ban was introduced, also made it illegal to show dogs with docked tails at events where the public is present.

Bill Cowling, honorary show director, said they had been advised to change their rules to comply with the act. They had tried to include classes to reflect the new law, but did not have enough entries to stage a meaningful show.