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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 11th May 2018
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Airgun petition delivered to parliament
Around 164 cats in the UK were shot with an airgun in 2017.
Cats Protection appeal garnered 100,000 signatures

Cats Protection has delivered a petition to Number 10 Downing Street calling for a change to airgun laws.

The petition, which had 100,000 signatures, was delivered to Prime Minister Theresa May On Wednesday, 9 May. Together with more than 50,000 supporters, the charity has also written to the Home Office calling for airgun licensing as part of government review.

Cats Protection’s head of advocacy Jacqui Cuff said current laws in England and Wales did not go far enough to stop airguns falling into the wrong hands.

“We know that 90 per cent of reported airgun attacks on cats happen in England and Wales, and it’s no coincidence that these are the parts of the country where licencing of airguns isnot in place,” she explained. “Laws on airguns in Scotland and Northern Ireland are much tighter, and we believe this should apply for the whole of the UK.”

According to media reports, around 164 cats in the UK were shot with an airgun in 2017. Many of these cats suffered horrific and often fatal injuries as a result of such attacks.
 
Ms Cuff added: “In the wrong hands, airguns are deadly weapons, and updating the laws relating to them is well overdue in England and Wales. Our petition of 100,000 people shows that a huge number of people agree that action must be taken urgently.” 

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.