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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 22nd November 2021
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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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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."