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Teaching children about pet care
National curriculum must be amended says charity

Cats Protection is calling animal lovers, parents and teachers to back its call for pet care to be included in the national curriculum.

While the National Curriculum for England is currently out for consultation until April 16, 2013, the charity is urging supporters to contact their local MP and ask for a minor change to the draft.

The call follows a speech made by Lord Guy Black of Brentwood in the House of Lords, in which he stated that millions of pets will be prevented from neglect by adding the basics of caring for them to the national curriculum.

"Problems of neglect, cruelty and abandonment often happen because people don't understand what a pet needs and how to care for it," he explained.

"One of the best ways, over time, to tackle this issue is therefore to ensure that children are taught properly how to care for pets – children are the pet owners of the future."

Cats Protection is a member of the Animal Welfare Education Alliance (AWEA), a group of 22 organisations and charities that hope to improve animal welfare through education.

A recent study by the alliance found that only 16 per cent of children are currently taught at school about caring for pets. Meanwhile, it discovered that 10 million UK pets are not having their basic needs met by their owners.

Lord Black commented that children need to learn that there are five basic welfare needs, as set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. These are environment, diet, behaviour, companionship and prevention of pain, suffering and disease.

"It does not need a new subject to be added to the curriculum to deal with this," Lord Black added.

"Teaching children from an early age about the importance of caring for pets will help them integrate effectively with others and understand the importance of responsibility – something which would have profound benefits for society as a whole."

Cats Protection has compiled a letter that supporters can send to their local MP. To use this click here, and insert your name, address and any personal message you wish to add.

Supporters may also email the Department for Education's consultation team directly.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.