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BVA calls on minister to act over shock collars
Defra has said that it remains committed to banning shock collars.
Legislation to ban hand-controlled devices is waiting to finish its journey through Parliament.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has written to Lord Douglas-Miller at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) about the lack of action in Parliament to finalise a ban on using hand-controlled electric shock collars on cats and dogs.

In the letter, BVA president Anna Judson wrote: ‘Although it is due to come into force on 1 February 2024, and has been carried over into the current parliamentary session, it has yet to be allocated parliamentary time in the House of Commons.’

A Defra spokesperson said: “We remain committed to delivering our pledge to ban the use of hand-controlled electric shock collars. Parliamentary business will be announced in due course.”

Image © Shutterstock

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.