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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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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.