News & Views

THE FREE STATE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MEET WILL BE HELD ON 31ST JULY 2010 AT LANGENHOVEN PARK "PLAASMARK" IN BLOEMFONTEIN.

The judge will be Jane Cronje, a highly respected terrierwoman whose excellent efforts are present in many of our lines today. She is also one of the founder members of our club in South Africa.

For more information please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call Johan Swanepoel on084-360-9116. Starting time 8.30 am

LETTER FROM MR. BARRIE WADE CHAIRMAN N.W.T.F. REGARDING THE ISSUE OF TAIL
DOCKING IN WORKING DOGS , INCLUDING THE WORKING JACK RUSSELL TERRIER

The recent ruling by the SAVC that routine tail docking for cosmetic purposes will no longer be tolerated as a practice by its members has failed to recognise the issues surrounding the "prophylactic" docking or tail shortening of working terriers. We encourage all members to familiarise themselves with the factual evidence presented regarding this issue and to stand firmly behind the working terrier and its continued right to have this procedure performed for welfare reasons. All of you that work their terriers are invited to contact our publicity officer or our Chief working inspector

for further information and we would be pleased to hear your opinion as the ruling opinion on this matter has been reached with no consultation whatsoever with those who work their dogs. We are most pleased to have received this letter from Barrie Wade the current Chairman of The National Working terrier Federation, who have managed to gain an exemption to this ruling for working dogs in the UK based on the negative welfare implications for working dogs subjected to a ruling of this nature. The letter reads as follows;

NATIONAL WORKING TERRIER FEDERATION
1A Bridgnorth Road, Trescott, Wolverhampton, WV6 7EU
Tel: 01902 765352 Mobile: 0776 7777 835 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.terrierwork.com

21st August 2009

Tail Docking - Working Jack Russell Terriers.

Dear Mr Setter

Further to your recent correspondence and communication regarding the above.

The National Working Terrier Federation (N.W.T.F.) was formed in 1984, when all of the major working terrier clubs in England, Scotland and Wales joined together to form a single umbrella organisation Their main aim being topromote and advance the most humane and efficient practices associated with working terriers. It now consists of some 26 member clubs, representing over 4,000 individual members, plus other affiliated organisations.

Through its Codes of Conduct and Accredited Membership scheme, the N.W.T.F. has singly promoted best standards of welfare and accountability in terrier work both nationally and internationally.

Its membership is primarily involved with the breeding and working of terriers for the purpose of controlling pests. It is an indication of their, and previous generations, skill, dedication and concern regarding the future well being of the breed. That the modern day working terrier displays none of the hereditary faults which are so commonplace in so many other breeds today.

The N.W.T.F. has in the past provided both written and oral evidence on terrier work to the U.K. Parliament at Westminster and also to the Scottish Parliament, and similar written evidence to the National Assembly for Wales.

Tail docking is undertaken on welfare grounds across a wide range of terrier and gundog breeds used in connection with shooting, falconry, hunting and pest control. It is carried out in order to minimise and prevent the risk of tail injuries whilst working in dense cover and below ground.

This is of particular significance in the case of terriers, which because of their much smaller size, determination and drive are able to seek out and pursue their quarry in the densest of cover and below ground. This is further exacerbated by the terrier's natural behaviour, which is not only to bark repeatedly at its quarry whilst in pursuit, but also to "flick" or "wag" its tail furiously while doing so.

Tail injuries to undocked working dogs are extremely distressing and deeply painful. They can take a considerable time to heal and in some instances may require part of the tail to be amputated under anaesthetic. This has significant negative welfare implications when compared to a relatively minor operation, carried out without any need for anaesthesia and normally within the first 72 to 96 hours of the puppy's birth.

Following the Schedule 3 amendment to the U.K. Veterinary Surgeons Act in July 1993, that removed tail docking from the list of operations which could be carried out by non-veterinarians. There did appear for a relatively short period of time a number of undocked working terriers. But as a result of the tail injuries sustained and the problems this caused, today it would be extremely unusual to see an undocked working terrier. In fact they are virtually non-existent.

Our own experience is further confirmed by research conducted in Sweden following the prohibition of tail docking in 1989. Evidence by the Swedish German Pointer Club showed that in 53 undocked litters by 1990, 38% suffered tail injury, rising to 51% in 1991.

More recently the U.K. Government revisited the issue of tail docking and the Animal Welfare Act 2006 whilst prohibiting the practice, also recognised the necessity on animal welfare grounds for this to continue for certain specific types of working dogs, including the Jack Russell Terrier and as such they are exempted from the legislation.

It is our firm belief and certain knowledge that a ban on tail docking would have severe negative welfare implications for all types of working terriers, including the Jack Russell Terrier.

Yours sincerely

Barrie W Wade MBCS CITP (Chairman N.W.T.F.)

Quotes;

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"There appears a semblance of strangeness that the wire-haired terriers from Devonshire have not been more used for show bench purposes, and by all accounts some of them were as good in looks as they had on many occasions proved in deeds. Those owned by the Rev. John Russell acquired a world-wide reputation, yet we look in vain for many remnants of the strain in the Stud Books, and the county of broad acres [the north] has once again distanced the southern one in the race for money. But, although the generous clerical sportsman occasionally consented to judge terriers at some of the local shows in the West, he was not much of a believer in such exhibitions. So far as dogs, and horses too, were concerned, with him it was 'handsome is that handsome does,' and so long as it did its work properly, one short leg and three long ones was no eye-sore in any terrier by the late Rev. John Russell."

Rawdon Lee - Modern Dogs published 1893

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8:29am UK, Wednesday February 11, 2009

A hero dog who lost his life trying to save a group of children from a Pit Bull attack has been awarded the top honour for pet bravery.

George has been honoured for his bravery

George the Jack Russell was given a posthumous PDSA Gold Medal, the animal equivalent of the George Cross, at a special ceremony in his home town.He had been out for a walk with five local children, aged between three and 12 years old, when a pair of Pit Bull Terriers set upon them.The 14-year-old dog sustained significant injuries as he shielded the youngsters from the attack. He later died from his wounds.Hundreds of people, including the children he saved, turned out to honour George at the presentation in Manaia, New Zealand. Governor-General Anand Satyanand handed over the award to George's owner, widower Alan Gay, on behalf of British veterinary charity PDSA.

The medal was hung around the neck of a statue of the brave dog, which has been erected in the town in his memory."There's no doubt that George was a small dog with a lion's share of courage," said PDSA director general Jan McLoughlin."Each account of his devotion to the five children on the day of the incident tells of a dog that was not afraid to face great fear in order to protect his friends."The children will never forget George's sacrifice and PDSA is proud to honour this exceptionally brave dog."The PDSA Gold Medal is the highest honour for outstanding animal bravery and exceptional dedication.

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"We are very much opposed to the modern show terrier and his type. Once you begin to breed it for show type, you lose the working qualities upon which you pride those terriers. I have been, I might say, the protagonist of the terrier bred for sport as against the terrier bred for show. I have no interest in cup hunting."

Arthur Heinemann quoted in Dan Russells book"Jack Russell and His Terriers" published 1979

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"The chest is, without doubt, the determining factor as to whether a terrier may follow its intended quarry underground. Too large and he/she is of little use for underground work, for no matter how determined the terrier may be, this physical setback will not be overcome in the nearly-tight situations it will encounter in working foxes. It may be thought the fox is a large animal - to the casual observer it would appear so. However, the bone structure of the fox is finer than that of a terrier, plus it has a loose-fitting, profuse pelt which lends itself to flexibility.

I have not encountered a fox which could not be spanned at 14 inches circumference - this within a weight range of 10 lbs to 24 lbs, on average 300 foxes spanned a year. You may not wish to work your terrier. However, there is a Standard to be attained, and spannability is a must in the Parson Russell Terrier. "

Barry Jones- professional terrierman to the Cotswold Foxhounds, former Chairman and President of the Fell and Moorland Working Terrier Club and founding Chairman of the National Working Terrier Federation.

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"It is said there are no aetheists in fox holes. I do not know about that. I do know that there are no practiced diggers who have not said a prayer. It is not an accident that John Russell was a minister. A dog will put you in touch with God."

Patrick Burns- terrierman

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