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Legislation to crack down on puppy farms made law in Scotland
"This [legislation] couldn't be more important right now, as we continue to see the demand for puppies rise during the pandemic." - Dr Ed Hayes, The Kennel Club.

Lucy's Law will come into force in September.

New legislation which aims to bring an end to irresponsible breeding by banning the third-party sale of puppies and kittens has now been made law in Scotland.

The new legislation – known as Lucy's Law – means that anyone looking to buy a puppy or kitten under six months must purchase directly from the breeder themselves, rather than a pet shop or commercial dealer, or consider adopting from an animal rehoming centre.

Dr Ed Hayes, head of public affairs at The Kennel Club, commented: “We are delighted that these new animal breeding and sale regulations, which include Lucy’s Law, have been made into law in Scotland – it’s a long-awaited and crucial step.

“Sadly, too often irresponsible breeders in the UK and abroad have depended on commercial third party sellers, like ‘dealers’ or pet shops, to disguise the horrific conditions puppies are bred and brought up in to the public, readily making a huge profit while causing untold suffering.

“We hope Lucy’s Law will help bring an end to this and alongside improving welfare conditions for puppies, it will also encourage anyone thinking of getting a puppy to really do their research and find a responsible breeder.

“This couldn’t be more important right now, as we continue to see the demand for puppies rise during the pandemic.”

The Kennel Club has also welcomed the Scottish government's updated breeding regulations, which differ from those in place in England, as they remove the 'over-complicated' and 'confusing' business test.

According to the Kennel Club, the business test has discouraged responsible one to two litter breeders from breeding, creating an opportunity for puppy importers and puppy farmers to take advantage of the high demand for puppies.

Parliamentary liaison officer for the Scottish Kennel Club, Richard Morrison, added: "Alongside Lucy's Law, which is a huge win for dog welfare, we believe the more simple approach to licensing will be better for dogs and puppies across the nation, encouraging high welfare, responsible and caring breeding while stamping out those who carelessly churn out puppies for profit."

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.