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USPCA calls for updated welfare guidelines
USPCA saw 6,691 cases reported to local councils in 2022.
The report has received cross-party support.

The Ulster Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) has published a report which recommends urgent reform to Northern Ireland’s animal welfare sentencing guidelines.

The Case for Change report suggests that Northern Ireland’s sentencing guidance is behind its contemporaries. The USPCA says that this could mean those guilty of animal welfare offences are not receiving appropriate sentences.

Northern Ireland is currently seeing thousands of animal welfare issues reported each year, with 6,691 cases reported to local councils in 2022.

Despite this, the USPCA believes that the guidance given to courts for sentencing those who have committed animal welfare crimes is outdated.

The USPCA’s report references key changes that have been made in recent years to the guidelines used by courts in England and Wales. It highlights regular updates made to these guidelines, which Northern Ireland has not made.

It sets out eight recommendations for the sentencing guidelines, which the USPCA believes will ensure those responsible for animal cruelty will receive appropriate sentencing to reflect the seriousness of their crime.

The report suggests that Northern Ireland's guidelines should be regularly updated to meet best practice and recent updates in England and Wales. There should also be continued monitoring of sentencing in these jurisdictions and future research into the enforcement of animal welfare laws.

The findings of the report have already received cross-party support and the USPCA has said it will work with all parties as well as the All-Party Group on Animal Welfare to enact the recommendations.

Nora Smith, USPCA chief executive, said: "Animals experience positive and negative feelings such as pleasure, joy, pain, and distress, as recognised in the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022. Despite this, animals continue to suffer unnecessary and horrific cruelty.

"In Northern Ireland, thousands of animal welfare issues are reported every year, with 5,916 reported in 2021 and 6,691 in 2022 to local councils alone.

"Sentencing is a complex and nuanced process; however, in England and Wales, guidelines have been updated regularly. Northern Ireland is lagging behind and needs to reform its approach to animal welfare offences.”

John Blair MLA, chair of the All-Party Group on Animal Welfare, said: "The All-Party Group welcomes the launch of this report and fully supports the recommendations from the USPCA. For too long, we have seen those responsible for some of the cruellest acts of animal welfare offences receiving sentences that do not match the crime.”

The full report can be found here.

Image © Shutterstock

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Antibiotic Amnesty survey opens

News Story 1
 The Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance - Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA - CA&E) has launched a survey which seeks to measure the success of this year's Antibiotic Amnesty campaign.

Its results will help the group to calculate how many unused or out-of-date antibiotics were returned as part of the campaign throughout November. Practices are also asked how they engaged with clients to raise awareness of the issue.

Participating practices can enter a prize draw to win up to 100 in vouchers for taking part. Further prizes from BSAVA and Webinar Vet will be available for practices with the best input.

The survey takes a few minutes to complete and will be running throughout December. It can be accessed via this link

Click here for more...
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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.