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Pet owners snub new RSA policy changes
dog with vets
87 per cent of owners would not take out an insurance policy that specifies where their pet must go for major operations.

New policies specify where pets must go for referral treatment

Almost 90 per cent of owners would not take out pet insurance with a company that dictates where their pet should be sent for referral treatment, a new survey has revealed.

The figure comes as Tesco and More Than adopt Royal & Sun Alliance policies which state that pets who need specialist treatment must be taken to one of 29 centres as approved by RSA.

Those who do not take their pet to a centre on the RSA’s approved ‘referral network’ could face a fine of £200.

The survey of 1,000 pet owners shows that 87 per cent of owners would not take out an insurance policy that specifies where their pet must go for major operations.

To read the full story visit vetcommunity.com.

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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.