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'Landmark' animal welfare strategy launches
french bulldog
"Brambell's report set in motion the now thriving field of animal welfare science - determining how animals perceive the world, and what they need and want from their perspectives."
Framework aims to help vets to promote welfare

A new animal welfare strategy launched by the BVA promises to help support vets as the advocates of animal welfare at individual, community and political levels.

Speaking at the annual London dinner yesterday (3 February), BVA president Sean Wensley said the strategy "sends a clear signal that the veterinary profession is, and will continue to be, a considerable force for good, for animals and for an increasingly compassionate society, in the years to come."

Over 50 years on from the Brambell Report (1965) and 10 years since the introduction of the Animal Welfare Act (2006), the field of animal welfare science is growing.

Increasingly, society expects the veterinary profession to lead debate and reflect new knowledge in their policies and practices.

"Brambell's report set in motion the now thriving field of animal welfare science - determining how animals perceive the world, and what they need and want from their perspectives," Mr Wensley added.

"In light of this new scientific understanding, society is increasingly examining how we ought to use and treat animals."

After an 18 month consultation, the BVA has released its strategy, which includes six priority areas for future action:

Animal welfare assessment - Promoting and applying tools for assessment, sharing research and publicising the importance of animal sentience to the profession

Ethics - Developing guidance, discussions and CPD to assist with ethical decision making, for example, balancing duties to animals, clients and employees

Legislation - Providing guidance and support on animal welfare legislation and its practical uses, including advice on reporting suspected animal welfare breaches such as non-accidental injuries

Advocacy - Reaching a consensus on the ways in which veterinary professionals feel it's appropriate to campaign for animal welfare improvements

Education - Assessing the delivery of animal welfare science, ethics and law, to undergraduates during the Day One Competences and Professional Development Phase

International - Forming partnerships with international vets and animal welfare organisations and promoting role and status of sentient animals


Read the full strategy here: http://www.bva.co.uk/uploadedFiles/Content/News,_campaigns_and_policies/Policies/Ethics_and_welfare/BVA-animal-welfare-strategy-feb-2016.pdf

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.