THE Scottish Greens have lodged plans to make the docking of dogs' tails illegal.
An amendment to the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill put forward by Mark Ruskell will prohibit the practice, which is already banned in England and Wales.
A blanket ban was put in place in Scotland in 2007 before it was removed in 2017 to allow working dogs to have their tails docked.
Supporters of the practice say it is used so tails do not get caught in things like fences, causing injury to the animal.
READ MORE: Scottish Parliament votes to reintroduce 'tail-docking' for puppies in Scotland
But Ruskell described tail docking as "barbaric", as he claimed the Scottish Government had previously given in to the will of the "shooting lobby".
He said: "The SNP's decision to ditch the tail docking ban in 2017 was a dark day for animal welfare in Scotland.
"Those who support this practice are stuck in the past. The amputation of thousands of puppies' tails just to appease the blood sports lobby is despicable.
"Vets and animal welfare experts are clear that there is no scientific basis for tail docking, despite what its advocates claim.
"Removing a puppy's tail can cause behavioural change in the animal. We know it also causes pain.
"My amendment will give MSPs the opportunity to correct the error made in 2017 and restore the ban.
"Scotland cannot claim to be a world leader on animal welfare when it brutalises puppy dogs to appease the shooting lobby.
"It's time to reintroduce the ban."
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