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California pet shops to only sell rescued animals
Over 6.5 million unwanted pets enter shelters every year in the USA.
New law prohibits the sale of animals from breeders in pet shops

A new law, known as AB 485, is scheduled to make California the first US state to only allow the sale of rescued animals in pet shops, according to a BBC News report.

Set to take effect on 1 January 2019, Californian pet retailers can no longer purchase cats, dogs and rabbits from breeders and must source animals from shelters. Any pet shop found guilty of breaching the new law will face a fine of $500.

Breeders, however, will still be allowed to make private sales.

Patrick O’Donnell, who introduced AB 485, has declared it beneficial to not just animals but to taxpayers, too. Currently, taxpayers across California contribute to the cost of sheltering unwanted animals.

The law has been welcomed by animal welfare groups who have been quoted by the BBC as calling it a victory against “kitten factories” and “puppy mills” where pets are bred for money.

In accordance with AB 485, pet shops in California will now be required by law to retain sufficient records of where each animal on sale was sourced.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) estimates that of the 6.5 million pets entering shelters in the USA each year, currently 1.5 million are euthanised.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."