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Two-thirds of owners unaware of five welfare needs
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The Veterinary Animal Welfare Coalition has been launched to help owners understand the five welfare needs.
Coalition aims to help owners understand legal obligations
 
A coalition of veterinary organisations has revealed that just one in three (35 per cent) pet owners is familiar with their pet's legal welfare needs.

The figures were released ahead of the tenth anniversary of the Animal Welfare Acts tomorrow (8 November).

While more than half of UK households own a pet, the annual PDSA Animal Well-being (PAW) Report has shown year-on-year that pet owners have a consistently low awareness of their legal welfare obligations.

The Veterinary Animal Welfare Coalition has been launched to help owners understand the five welfare needs. It encompasses leading veterinary and animal welfare organisations, including the BVA, BVNA, BSAVA, British Veterinary Zoological Society, PDSA, Blue Cross and RSPCA.

The 2006 Animal Welfare Acts established a duty of care and made it a legal requirement for owners to meet the five welfare needs; that is, providing appropriate housing, diet, social interactions, ability to behave naturally and freedom from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

PDSA research also shows that pet owners who feel informed about these five needs are significantly more likely to provide their pets with preventative healthcare.

Coalition chair James Yeates said the five welfare needs are a "fantastic 'umbrella' guide", but as each species has such varying welfare needs, it's essential that owners can put theory into practice.

He added: "Our understanding of animal welfare science has come such a long way over the past 50 years so we'd really like pet owners to pop into their local veterinary practice, where they will be able to get tailored, up-to-date advice for their pets, whether that's a horse or a hamster!"

Pet owners are advised to speak to their local veterinary practice for advice on the five welfare needs and how these apply to their individual pet's species, size and age.

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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.