Letters of intention re docking

[LJR]

Would anyone be able to tell me what I should include in letters from gamekeepers and prospective puppy buyers with regards to the docking law?

I want to be as thorough as possible, how many gamekeepers letters should I get? I have so far four prospective buyers whom I can also get letters from.

Do they literally need to include the very basics?

I am taking my bitch in for a scan at the end of the week, so I will obviously ask my Vet how much information they require, however this being the last week it would be prudent to have a letter ready for the shoots that I will be attending on Friday and Saturday.

Many thanks, I did do a search on the forum but couldn't find anything that helped.

[Alice]

Presumably you are having to do it this way as you don't have a shotgun licence, and also presumably you're in England? If so, as I understand it, and according to BASC, you will just need the following as evidence that the pups are intended to work -

"A letter from a gamekeeper, a land occupier (or his agent), a person with shooting rights, a shoot organiser, a club official, or a person engaged in lawful pest control, stating that the breeder of the dog whose tail is to be docked is known to him and that dogs bred by that breeder have been used (as the case may be) on his land, or in his shoot, or for pest control."

Nothing in the law says anything about prospective buyers?

So I would have thought something along the lines of 'I [gamekeeper name] hereby state that [your name] is known to me as his dog [your bitch's name] is worked on my shoot in aid of the lawful shooting of game, yours faithfully [their signature], Gamekeeper, [shoot name]'

should do the trick? Obviously do a header with the shoot name etc at the top, or (even better) if the shoot has any headed paper made see if you can pinch a couple of copies of that, make it look nice and official.

I'm sure if you speak to the vet they'll be able to tell you exactly what they need- was it them who mentioned prospective buyers to you? Possibly it's their requirement to make sure you've got working homes lined up for the pups they're docking?

[vicky payne]

Nearly Alice! The wording must state that the bicth is used for lawful pest control OR dogs bred by the owner have been used for lawful shooting of animals. Very silly distinction I knwo, but there you go.
Some vets are very difficult about docking and want 'evidence' from all potential buyers (eg shotgun cert, letter as above, forces or police id) BUT at the time of cocking ALL the 'DOGS' (i.e. puppies) belong to the person signing the paperwork. This person also signs to say they intend to keep or sell for working.
Have a look at the paperwork; that will help you understand what you need to supply...
http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/fa ... ficate.pdf

[Jacquie]

Also check that your vet will dock the tails of the puppies. I went to 3 different vets who said it wasn't their policy to dock tails even with the necessary paperwork!

[LJR]

Thank you both for your replies, that is just the information I needed.

I do have a gun licence so I will include a copy of this also.

My Vet likes a belt and braces approach so that there is absolutely no comeback - the more information I can provide him with with regards to the puppies going to working homes the better.

[LJR]

Also check that your vet will dock the tails of the puppies. I went to 3 different vets who said it wasn't their policy to dock tails even with the necessary paperwork!

Thank you! Yes I have checked that my Vet is happy to dock.

[Alice]

if you have a shotgun certificate that should count as evidence enough- for the law at least, your vet's own personal policy may differ of course.