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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 8th December 2023
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Blood bank not accepting XL bully donors
The announcement comes ahead of the XL bully ban.
The rule comes as the XL bully ban approaches.

Pet Blood Bank UK has said that it will no longer be accepting XL bully type dogs as blood donors in England and Wales.

The announcement comes ahead of the first stage of the XL bully ban, which begins on 31 December 2023.

The legislation will mean that, as a banned dog, XL bully types will need to wear a muzzle in all public spaces. This includes the donation centre, which the blood bank says will compromise the dogs’ welfare when donating blood.

The charity will continue accepting pre-existing XL bully type donors at its donation centres in Scotland, subject to any updates in the Scottish legislation.

However, they will no longer be accepting any new donor registrations from the breed at any centres in the UK.

Pet Blood Bank UK says that, while they understand the news is ‘disappointing’, they hope that XL bully type owners will continue to support them by volunteering and fundraising.

Image © Shutterstock

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New guidelines published for wildlife disease surveillance

News Story 1
 A set of international guidelines for disease surveillance in wildlife has been updated for the first time since 2015.

Released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the World Organisation for Animal Health, General Guidelines for Surveillance of Diseases, Pathogens and Toxic Agents in Free-ranging Wildlife is designed to help wildlife authorities and others working with wildlife carry out effective surveillance programmes.

The document, which cover areas including choosing appropriate strategies, safety and biosafety protocols, and ethical and legal considerations, can be read here.  

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Restricted zone extended after more bluetongue cases

After three new cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 were detected along the Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire border, the restricted zone has been extended.

The zone now includes Buckinghamshire and part of Berkshire, as well as Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, City of Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, East Sussex, Essex, Greater London, part of Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, part of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, part of Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Surrey, and West Sussex.

Susceptible animals in the restricted zone should only be moved if it is essential. A specific licence is needed to move a susceptible animal from within the restricted zone to outside of the zone.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Suspected cases must be reported on 03000 200 301 in England or 03003 038 268 in Wales. In Scotland, suspected cases should be reported to the local field services office. In Northern Ireland, suspected cases should be reported to the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or by contacting the local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.

A map of the areas where restrictions apply can be found here.