In the run-up to the cabinet reshuffle, there was a view that Minister Simon Coveney would be moved. Obviously, the Taoiseach had other ideas.

No matter what your opinion of Minister Coveney on agricultural matters, he introduced the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 last March and it has brought the law surrounding how we treat our animals into the 21st century. For this, he should be commended.

While it is a massive piece of legislation (81 pages) and Ulysses is easier to read, it basically places clear responsibilities on owners of animals and their vets to provide five freedoms for their animals: freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom to exhibit natural behaviour and freedom from fear and distress.

It is incumbent on vets to help farmers and point out situations where these freedoms might be in jeopardy. The benefits are obvious, as comfortable, happy animals are healthier and more profitable for farmers.

We often dismissed pain thinking that animals don’t suffer from pain to any great extent. Now we know that pain hampers healing and performance.

Farmers correctly now ask us “what are you doing to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation in my sick and injured animals?”

One aspect of this legislation that appears to have been missed by the public is that it is illegal for any member of the public to dock pups tails. There are no exceptions to this.

Tail docking was done for cosmetic reasons in the vast majority of cases. It has been scientifically proven that you would have to dock 500 dogs tails to save one from tail injury, but as vets, we see many more than one botched job of DIY tail docking per 500 dogs.

The Veterinary Council of Ireland had banned vets from docking pups’ tails for years. Yet this practice was widespread throughout the country as members of the public continued to do it themselves.

You must be warned now that there is a fine of up to €5,000 for someone convicted of this new offence.

The Minister, now that he is relatively safe in his job for another while, is well on his way to introducing compulsory microchipping and registration for all dogs by 2016. This will make members of the public directly responsible for any damage or worrying that their dogs might have caused if caught straying onto farms.

* Sean Coffey works at Mulcair Vet Clinic, Newport, Co Tipperary. Mulcair Vet Clinic is part of XLVets. XLVets is a group of progressive practices working together to achieve a better future for agriculture and veterinary in Ireland. For further information, go to www.xlvets.ie