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MSPs meet with Cats Protection
Pictured: MSPs with members of the Cats Protection team.

Charity discussed priorities for cat welfare in Scotland.

Cats Protection, leading feline welfare charity, met with members of the Scottish parliament (MSPs) to discuss improving cat welfare across Scotland.

Attended by 25 MSPs, the event took place on 16 June at Holyrood, and was held to educate MSPs on how they can best support Scottish cats and their owners, highlighting current concerns and campaigns for MSPs to be aware of.

“It was wonderful to welcome so many MSPs who were keen to find out how they can support cats and the people who care about them,” said Alice Palombo, Cats Protection's advocacy and government relations officer for Scotland.

“Scotland is a nation of cat lovers, with 20% of households owning one, so their welfare is important to a huge number of people.”

The event was sponsored by Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, who enthusiastically promoted it on Twitter, sharing images of himself with a giant kitten banner, and cat-shaped biscuits.

The charity has revealed that its campaign to encourage more landlords to allow tenants to keep pet cats was discussed at the parliamentary reception, as well as its calls for compulsory microchipping of pet cats in Scotland.

Alice explained the importance of the event for keeping MSPs up-to-date on key feline welfare discussions: “While Scotland already has some strong legislation in place to protect cats, there is always more that can be done, such as banning snares and introducing fireworks licensing.”

“We were pleased to discuss these priorities with so many MSPs as part of our work to help cats in Scotland.”

 

Image (C) Cats Protection

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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

Click here for more...
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.