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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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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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News Shorts
New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.