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WELFARE OF ANIMALS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1972 - SECT 18

1958 c.13

18.(1) Subject to subsection (2), the docking or nicking of horses is
prohibited.

(2) Where any veterinary surgeon, after examining a horse certifies in writing
that in his opinion the docking or nicking of the horse is necessary for the
health of the horse because of disease or injury to the tail, the operation
may be performed.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), any person who

(a)performs, causes or procures or, being the owner, permits the docking or
nicking of a horse otherwise than in accordance with subsection (2); or

(b)has in his possession or under his control any docked or nicked horse and
is unable to prove that the docking or nicking was performed in accordance
with subsection (2);

(4) A person shall not be liable to be punished more than once in respect of
the docking or, as the case may be, of the nicking of any particular horse.

(5) In this section

"docking" means the deliberate removal of any bone or any part of a bone from
the tail of a horse;

"nicking" means the deliberate severing of any tendon or muscle in the tail of
a horse.

© 1972 Crown Copyright

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