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NI pet travel scheme now open for applications
Pet dogs, cats, ferrets and assistance dogs can now enter Northern Ireland with a simple, lifelong travel document.

Lifelong document will enable pets to enter Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

The Northern Ireland pet travel scheme is now open for applications, the BSAVA has confirmed.

Under the scheme, pet dog, cat, ferret or assistance dog owners can travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland with a simple Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document (PTD)

The PTD is free and valid for the pet’s lifetime. The only requirement is that owners must get their animal microchipped before travel.

The BSAVA writes: ‘Professionals in small animal practice may wish to make any clients intending to travel from GB to NI aware and direct them to the following government website for further up-to-date information.’

The PTD follows the announcement of a new pet travel scheme by Defra as part of the Windsor Framework in November 2024. The Windsor Framework is the agreement with the EU which replaced the old Northern Ireland Protocol.

It eliminates the requirement for pet owners to obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC), have an up-to-date rabies vaccination and, for dogs, tapeworm treatment for each trip a pet takes between GB and NI. 

Image (C) Shutterstock.

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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."