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RCVS receives petition in support of homeopathy
RCVS president Stephen May meeting homeopathy supporters outside of the RCVS headquarters. 

Petition signed by more than 15,000 people

The RCVS has received a petition voicing vets’ concerns over the College’s recent position statement on complementary and alternative medicine.

The petition, signed by more than 15,000 people, was handed to the RCVS on Monday (15 January) by a delegation of around 40 animal owners and veterinary surgeons.

RCVS president Stephen May and CEO Lizzie Lockett met the delegation and spent time hearing accounts and stories from the supporters. In view of the bad weather, they invited the supporters inside for hot drinks, but the invitation was declined.

Stephen May commented: “We were pleased to be able to meet our visitors today and to receive their petition, although it was a little tricky trying to answer questions on a busy London pavement!

“We continue to recognise that homeopathy and other complementary therapies are popular amongst some animal owners and certain members of the veterinary profession, as indicated by today’s delegation, but it is worth reiterating that the RCVS Council statement does not ban their use.”
 
He continued: “What it does state, is that in order to protect animal welfare, we regard such treatments as being complementary, rather than alternative, to treatments for which there is a recognised evidence base or which are based on sound scientific principles.
 
“This is similar to the position that we have held on complementary therapies for many years, but we will always be happy to receive and consider scientific evidence that demonstrates their efficacy.”

The protest was organised by the British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons (BAHVS), which has been campaigning for the College to retract its statement on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Vets, animal lovers and their pets met outside the Houses of Parliament before marching towards the RCVS headquarters on Horseferry Road. Junior vice president Ilse Pedler of the BAHVS said that further events are being planned for later in the year.

Image (C) RCVS

 

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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.