News

Some global food brands are failing farm animals by not improving animal welfare standards, according to our latest BBFAW report launched in partnership with Compassion in World Farming.

The leading global measure of corporate action on farm animal welfare

The 2020 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report, launched today (March 30), reveals that 59 of 150 companies reviewed rank in the lowest tiers (tiers 5 and 6), indicating that they provide little or no information on their approach to farm animal welfare.

...follow the link to read the article in full on the WAP website...

We have answered almost one million calls and taken in more than 23,000 animals since the start of lockdown one year ago. 

We've had to adapt the way we work to comply with lockdown rules and social distancing but have continued to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals during the pandemic. One year on, we're looking back at some of our amazing achievements, despite the challenging times.

...follow the link to read the article in full on the RSPCA website...

The Dogs Trust are issuing advice to dog owners as rules on outdoor gatherings of people start to relax across the UK. 

Rachel Casey, Director of Canine Behaviour and Research, said: 

"After months of restrictions, getting back outside with our friends and family is something we’ve all longed for and adjusting to normality should come  easily to most of us, especially as we knew it was coming. But our dogs may be confused...

...follow the link to read the article in full on the Dogs Trust website...

A group of veterinary professionals representing all areas of the workforce have written an open letter demanding that the Government takes swift action to enshrine the principle of animal sentience in legislation.

Officers and representatives from the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and 18 species divisions and affiliate groups have signed a letter printed in today’s (Wednesday) Daily Telegraph, in which they call on the Government to deliver on commitments to animal sentience made back in December 2017. 

...follow the link to read the article in full on the BVA website...

Allowing dairy cattle to access pasture can promote natural behaviour and improve their health. However, the psychological benefits are poorly understood.

Over the past year, we have been shown the psychological damage that lockdown can have on human wellbeing. New research led by Queen’s University Belfast has found that “livestock lockdown” may also damage emotional wellbeing in dairy cows. The research has been published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports.

...follow the link to read the article in full on The Dairy Site...

Defra has expressed its commitment to work with the #CutTheCrop campaign to end the concerning trend of ear-cropped dogs in the UK.

The British Veterinary Association and The FOAL Group have welcomed the Government’s encouraging written response to their petition calling for the closure of all legal loopholes that allow the cruel and illegal practice of ear cropping dogs to continue.

...follow the link to read the article in full on the BVA website...

Experts in the fields of veterinary behavioural medicine and clinical animal behaviour can assist the courts in a wide variety of cases involving animals.

by Kendal Sheperd

I have recently been alerted to an excellent article writ­ten by John and Margaret Cooper, entitled “What is veterinary forensic medicine and why is it important?” (Cooper and Cooper, 2018), published in Veterinary Practice. Thorough but succinct, the article first gives the correct definition of “forensic” as meaning “relating to, used, in or connected with a court of law”. 

...follow the link to read the article in full on the Veterinary Practice website...

With governments across the UK releasing their roadmaps and their path to lift us out of lockdown in the coming months, Dogs Trust is urging dog owners not to forget their canine companions and has released a roadmap for rovers to help them adjust as normality resumes.  

...follow the link to read the article in full on the Dogs Trust website...

On 23rd February, a letter signed by more than 140 scientists, including 20 UK signatories and world-renowned conservationist Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, was submitted to the European Commission in support of the citizens' call to end the use of cages for farmed animals in the EU.

...follow the link to read the article in full on Ciwf website...

BVA has welcomed the publication of the Trade and Agriculture Commission’s report which sets out recommendations for liberalising trade whilst safeguarding UK agriculture’s animal welfare and environmental standards.

...follow the link to read the article in full on the BVA website...