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UK online retailers remove ear cropping kits
"The swift and positive action by the two major retailers is a small but significant animal welfare win for our #CutTheCrop campaign" - Dr Justine Shotton.
eBay has responded after the BVA rose concerns over DIY kits. 

'DIY' dog ear cropping and ear straightening kits have been removed from two major UK online retailers after the British Veterinary Association (BVA) raised concerns earlier this month.

Dr Justine Shotton, BVA President, wrote to eBay UK to flag listings for ear cropping kits sold on their website, and share veterinary and animal welfare concerns about the illegal practice of ear cropping.

Dr Shotton explained: “We took action after being made aware by a few vets about the availability of ear cropping kits on eBay UK. 

“Our research also found a number of listings for ear straightening accessories being sold via several other major online websites.”

Etsy UK and Amazon UK were also contacted to share concerns about the availability of ear straightening or correcting accessories, which have the potential to compromise dogs' welfare. 

Both eBay and Etsy took action to remove the kits after being contacted, and in its response, eBay promised to update its filters and algorithms globally to filter out ear cropping products. Amazon UK has not yet responded to the BVA's letter. 

“The swift and positive action by the two major retailers is a small but significant animal welfare win for our #CutTheCrop campaign,” said Dr Shotton. 

“While the Government has promised action to close the legal loophole that allows cropped dogs to be brought into the country from abroad, the availability of such accessories online remains hard to tackle.

“I’d encourage vets and members of the public to download and use our new template letter to raise concerns with retailers if they come across similar listings online in the future. Where such functionality exists, they may also use the websites’ online reporting mechanism to log a complaint.”

The BVA's template letter is available to download here. 

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Webinar to explore history of KC breed registers

News Story 1
 A free webinar exploring the development of the Kennel Club's registration system and the evolution of closed breed registers has been announced.

Hosted by Dr Alison Skipper, veterinary and research advisor at the Kennel Club, the webinar will delve into the development of the registry and how the changing landscape of scientific knowledge has shaped breeding practices. It will also look at what this means for the future of pedigree dogs.

The session will culminate with a look at The Kennel Club's ongoing and future engagement in this area, with a chance for attendees to put forward their thoughts and questions for discussion.

This event takes place on Microsoft Teams on Tuesday, 10 June at 7pm. To learn more, visit events.teams.microsoft.com  

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.