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Kennel Club updates Assured Breeder Scheme
Regular review and update of the Assured Breeder Scheme helps to encourage good breeding practices.
Scheme updated twice-yearly to maintain dog health and welfare.

A series of updates designed to further improve the health of dogs and responsible breeding has been announced by The Kennel Club.

The announement follows a review of the range of breed-specific health testing and screening requirements under the Assured Breeder Scheme (ABS) with breed clubs and councils. Agreed by the Kennel Club Dog Health Group, the updates aim to keep dog health and welfare at the forefront of the scheme.

Among the list of breed-specific updates include the removal of BAER testing (deafness) as a requirement for the English toy terrier and the recommendation for Dobermanns to be eye tested. The list of updates also includes the requirement for elbow grading for the Hungarian Vizsla and the recommendation of heart testing for the whippet.

The ABS is reviewed twice a year to ensure it remains relevant and of maximum health benefit to all dogs bred by Kennel Club Assured Breeders. While the updates come into immediate effect, existing Assured Breeders have a grace period of six months to allow them to take account of any existing breeding plans. 

Commenting on the changes, Bill Lambert, welfare and breeder services executive at the Kennel Club, said: “Regular review and update of the Assured Breeder Scheme recommendations and requirements ensure we maintain maximum progress for dog health improvements and encourage good breeding practices, which will in turn help to protect the future of the UK's pedigree dogs and ensure that puppy buyers can be easily signposted to breeders who do all they can to produce healthy pups. 

“The current high demand for puppies simply serves to reinforce the importance of puppy seekers doing their research before making a purchase. The ABS offers these people a way to source breeders who have agreed to follow a number of requirements including health testing.” 

A full list of updates to the Assured Breeder Scheme is available at bit.ly/37jOkC2

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
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NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.