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Animal Licensing Wales project extended
Animal Welfare Teams focuses on dog breeding and enforcement.
The Welsh government says it has received positive feedback.

The Welsh government has confirmed that its Animal Welfare Teams project has been extended until 2025.

Animal Welfare Teams, led by Animal Licensing Wales, focus on dog breeding and enforcement, and ensures that animal welfare inspectors are well qualified to handle welfare issues.

Animal Licensing Wales was commended at a responsible dog ownership summit in autumn last year. The first trained senior intelligence officer was nominated for a Pet Industry Federation award, and the programme received an RSPCA Innovator Footprint award.

Through the scheme, five training courses have been delivered to 58 officers in local authorities across Wales.

Between February and December 2023, Animal Welfare Teams received 252 intelligence calls in relation to unlicensed dog breeders. This led to 73 investigations and 391 inspections across eight local authorities – leading to 58 Improvement Notices served under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Among the dog breeding practices being monitored by the Animal Welfare Teams is the breeding of German Shepherd working dogs, ensuring the breeders maintain high standards.

Animal Welfare Teams have also led operations at Welsh ports, ensuring people comply with the pet travel scheme and the commercial movement of pets.

Lesley Griffith, Welsh minister for rural affairs, said: “We have ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in Wales, and one of our commitments was to improve the training and qualifications for local authority enforcement officers.  The Animal Licensing Wales project is making a real difference.

“We know ensuring dog breeding establishments are high quality and reputable plays a key role in promoting responsible dog ownership, and the officers are delivering real change here.”

Gareth Walters, project lead for Animal Licensing Wales, said: “This project is delivering training across Wales, improving enforcement powers for local authorities.

“We're pleased it has been extended until 2025 and it will provide valuable lessons and experience for the future.”

Image © Shutterstock

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.