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BVA welcomes recognition of cephalopods and decapods as sentient
"These changes are a resounding win for animal welfare" - Justine Shotton, BVA president.
The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill has been amended to include these animals. 

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) welcomes the Government's recognition of cephalopods and decapods as sentient beings, as the scope of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill has been expanded to included cephalopod molluscs and decapod crustaceans.

Announced on Friday 19 November, the changes will see cephalopods, including octopuses, squid and cuttlefish, and decapods, including crabs, lobsters and crayfish, recognised as capable of feeling emotions such as pain and distress. This recognition will protect these creatures under the new sentience laws.

BVA president Justine Shotton commented on the importance of this decision in a press release: “We’re really heartened by today’s move, which will place a duty on the state to consider the sentience of decapod and cephalopods within all future policy making as well as vertebrate animals.

“BVA and others have long championed crustacean and molluscs as having the capacity to experience feelings such as pleasure and pain, and the growing scientific evidence base really served to strengthen this argument.

“These changes are a resounding win for animal welfare which will provide new gold standard protections to millions of crustaceans as well as other species.”

Lord Zac Goldsmith, Animal Welfare Minister, said of the changes to the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill: “The Animal Welfare Sentience Bill provides a crucial assurance that animal wellbeing is rightly considered when developing new laws.

“The science is now clear that decapods and cephalopods can feel pain and therefore it is only right they are covered by this vital piece of legislation.”

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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.