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Bill to increase jail time for animal abusers
Last year the RSPCA received over 1.1 million calls to its 24-hour cruelty hotline, with a call every 27 seconds on average. (Stock photo)
Offenders could face up to five years in jail under proposed legislation 

A new bill to increase maximum jail sentences for animal cruelty will be introduced to parliament today (26 June).

Under the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, animal abusers could face up to five years in prison. Currently, the maximum sentence courts can impose is six months.

Environment secretary Michael Gove first revealed plans to strengthen the legislation in September 2017 and the government has come under increasing pressure in recent months to deliver the bill. Yesterday, representatives from 11 charities visited No 10 Downing Street to urge the government to stand by its promise.

Announcing the new bill today, Mr Gove said: “There is no place in this country for animal cruelty. That is why I want to make sure that those who abuse animals are met with the full force of the law. Our new Bill sends a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated, with the maximum five-year sentence one of the toughest punishments in Europe.
 
“I am committed to making our country the best place in the world for the care and protection of animals.”

Last year the RSPCA received over 1.1 million calls to its 24-hour cruelty hotline, with a call every 27 seconds on average. There have also been a number of cases where courts have said they would have handed down longer jail sentences if they had been available.

Animal welfare charities have welcomed the new bill. RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood said that under current legislation, even if the maximum sentence of six months is imposed, offenders often serve just a few weeks.

“It’s a sad reality that, in England, you could face a longer prison sentence for fly tipping than for brutally beating an animal to death,” he added. “We need to better protect our animals and the RSPCA hopes that this new Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill will give courts the powers they need to punish those responsible for the most unimaginable cruelty to innocent, defenceless animals.”

Claire Horton, chief executive of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, described the introduced of the bill as a “landmark achievement”.

She said: “We, and many other rescue centres, see shocking cases of cruelty and neglect come through our gates and there are many more animals that are dumped and don’t even make it off the streets. Research shows that tougher prison sentences act as a deterrent to would-be criminals, so today’s announcement should prevent the suffering of many animals in the future.”

The bill will be introduced to the House of Commons, before moving through the House of Lords. If passed, it will come into effect two months after receiving Royal Assent.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.