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Council adopts scheme to tackle impulse buying
bearded dragon
EMODE classifies animals as Easy, Moderate, Difficult or Extreme, according to how challenging they are to keep.
Pet shops asked to supply EMODE leaflet to potential buyers

Brighton and Hove City Council has become the first in Britain to adopt a new scheme aimed at tackling impulse pet buying.

From January 1, 2015, pet shops in the area will be asked to provide an EMODE leaflet to anyone thinking of buying a pet.

EMODE is a tool created last year by a team of 18 vets, scientists and technicians. It aims to help potential pet owners make informed decisions by categorising animals as Easy, Moderate, Difficult or Extreme, depending on how challenging they are to keep.

The Animal Protection Agency (APA) is urging councils to take up the scheme to reduce impulse purchases. Exotic pets are often mistakenly marketed as being "easy to keep", leading to widespread animal welfare problems.

Brighton and Hove's Licensing Committee voted in the scheme at a meeting on November 20.

Stephanie Powell, committee chair and Green Party Councillor, said: "Impulse buying of pets, especially exotic animals, is the root cause of a whole raft of animal welfare and environmental problems.

"It was therefore very important for the Greens to ensure Brighton and Hove City Council genuinely tackle this issue by adopting the EMODE initiative. This is the first Council in Britain to do so and I hope many more follow our lead."

Welcoming the news, APA's director Elaine Toland, said: "As a Brighton-based organisation that helped to develop EMODE we are particularly proud that the initiative has been adopted on our doorstep and we are looking forward to pet shops taking this on.

"In my view, pet shops that hand out the EMODE leaflet signal their commitment to responsible pet selling and should inspire greater confidence in prospective purchasers.

"We are delighted that EMODE is rapidly gaining support and has also received the ‘thumbs up’ from UK central government."

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.