Tag: animal welfare

RSPCA Assured Farms: Animal Rising investigation exposes welfare failures

  • Today footage and a report from a huge investigation into the state of RSPCA Assured farms has been released, with 45 UK farms featured. The RSPCA Assured scheme is one of the largest, so-called, animal welfare programs in the UK.
  • RSPCA President, Chris Packham, was sent the footage and has today called the footage “indefensible.” He also called for the suspension of the scheme. Peter Egan, former RSPCA Vice-President condemned the footage too.
  • The scheme has been described as “effectively fraud” by a Crown Court Judge.
  • Animal Rising is calling on the RSPCA to drop the assurance scheme entirely, saying “This is definitive proof that farming animals can never be done nicely.”

Today, amidst an utter scandal for the RSPCA, Animal Rising has released footage from over 40 UK farms that the charity’s animal welfare scheme assures as, supposedly, ‘high welfare’.

The footage shows scenes including baby chickens dying in factory farms and pigs left dead for days in filthy sheds.

Rose Patterson, Animal Rising Co-Director said: “This investigation has blown the lid off the RSPCA’s dirty secret; it is happy to rubber stamp cruelty on factory farms and industrial animal abuse.

“I’ve personally spent months investigating and cataloguing a litany of suffering across farms that the public is told to trust. Some of the scenes we’ve seen in the sheds endorsed by the RSPCA are beyond barbaric.

“The world’s oldest and most respected animal charity has clearly lost its way. The work they do for cats, dogs, and other animals is evidently not making its way to others like chickens and pigs. As the charity nears its 200th birthday it has a choice to make; will it step up, protect animals, and drop the Assured Scheme?”

Chris Packham, President of the RSPCA, has called on the charity to suspend the scheme and take a bolder stance to protect animals.

This exposé comes after several other investigations into RSPCA Assured farms by groups such as Animal Justice Project and VIVA!

Peter Egan, former RSPCA Vice-President said: ““The findings on RSPCA Assured farms across the UK are deeply troubling and call the entire scheme into question. The RSPCA has been failing animals across the UK.

“In the past, I worked extensively with the charity because I believed – and still do believe – that the RSPCA must lead the way in protecting animals. I now see that cannot happen without dropping the RSPCA Assured scheme entirely”

There is more to come on this story, with Animal Rising promising a sustained campaign of action until the RSPCA drops its assured scheme.

Animal Rising is a social movement to create a new relationship with all beings and give us a chance for a safe ecological future.

The group primarily calls for the transition to a secure and sustainable plant-based food system, alongside a mass rewilding programme.

On Saturday (8/6/24), local supporters of Animal Rising put up posters across the city centre of Edinburgh, exposing the vast differences between the public advertising and hidden reality of RSPCA Assured farms.

Areas the posters could be seen were Princes Street, Royal Mile and Lothian Road.

Other cities and towns in the UK targeted include Birmingham, Liverpool, London, Sheffield, Southampton, Newcastle and York.

In a coordinated mass action, individuals from the climate and animal group Animal Rising covered many UK towns and cities, including Edinburgh on 8/6/24, with posters exposing the vast differences between RSPCA Assured marketing and RSPCA Assured farms for pigs, chickens, salmon and cows.

This action follows extensive investigations by Animal Rising that have been compiled into a comprehensive and expert-backed report which exposes the RSPCA Assured scheme for endorsing factory farming and extensive animal suffering.

Investigations on 45 farms revealed animal suffering on every single farm and resulted in the scheme being described as ‘effectively fraud’ by legal expert Ayesha Smart. Animal Rising is calling for the RSPCA to drop the scheme and throw their support behind a transition to a plant-based food system and helping farmers to produce food sustainably.

This is their 200th anniversary year, and making this change will help remove avoidable animal suffering from our food system, create space for rewilding and nature in the UK to thrive, and allow them to extend care and compassion ‘for every kind’ in line with their recent rebrand.

Pamela Waite, 26, a local Clerical Assistant said: “I am absolutely disgusted that the RSPCA, an animal welfare charity, is making money from the exploitation and suffering of animals.

“They pretend that something humane happens in a slaughter house by labeling animal products as RSPCA assured. But, as evident from Animal Risings investigations, RSPCA Assured farms do not protect animals from harm.

“RSPCA please drop your RSPCA Assured scheme!”

In 2018, comprehensive research from the University of Oxford showed that 76% of the land currently used for food production would be freed-up by a global transition to plant-based production [3]. This land could be rewilded and begin carbon drawdown, mitigating the worst impacts of climate breakdown. A 2019 Harvard University report on UK farmland and food production from Helen Harwatt and Matthew N. Hayek also concluded that the UK would be carbon-negative if it completely transitioned to a plant-based food system [4].

Animal Rising is a social movement to create a new relationship with all beings and give us a chance for a safe ecological future. The group primarily calls for the transition to a secure and sustainable plant-based food system, alongside a mass rewilding programme.

RSPCA celebrates it’s 200th anniversary this weekend with a series of ‘One Fun Day’ events.

PICTURES: press@animalrising.org

Scottish Pet Food Banks suffer from huge drop in donations

Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home reports drop in donations has had a serious impact on pet owners

The pet food bank service which has been used as a lifeline by so many has been severely affected by the drop in donations it receives.

The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home (the Home) works with 87 pet food bank providers across East and Central Scotland, providing meals to pet owners who would otherwise not be able to afford to feed their beloved pets.

Without food bank support from the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, some pet owners would be forced to surrender their beloved dog or cat. However, capacity at the Home itself is at a maximum and if even 1% of animals supported by foodbanks had been surrendered to the Home, they would be beyond capacity and be forced to turn them away.

In 2023 the Home was able to fulfil over 75% of pet food requests that they received, but that number has dropped to less than 50% since February 2024. The Home is now struggling to support the food banks with even the basic amount of cat and dog food that they require to support families in desperate need.

The demand for pet food bank support is growing so rapidly it is currently outstripping supply.  

Last year the Home provided 671,000 pet meals in total through emergency food packs accessed at the Home and through food banks – a staggering 104% increase on the number of meals they provided in 2022. In April 2024 alone the Home supplied 1,144 dogs with one week’s worth of dog food and 2,124 cats were supported with one week’s worth of cat food.

Jamie Simpson, Director of People and Services at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, said,“Our Pet Foodbanks are a lifeline for thousands of dog and cat owners across East & Central Scotland, who, without our support, may have to give up their loved pet.

“We rely solely on donations to provide food supplies and with the cost-of-living crisis, demand is increasing. The Home is now at a point in which our foodbank donations are critically low but demand for help is at a record high, so we are asking anyone who can to support us with a donation of dog or cat food, to help pet owners in need in the community and keep pets in loving homes.”

The cost of living crisis has put pressure on food banks to support growing numbers of communities who are not able to afford to feed their families and pets.

In 2023 the Edinburgh Cat and Dog Home supplied 86,779kg of pet food, 595,816 meals were distributed at pet food banks across East and Central Scotland, 753 dogs were helped through Emergency Food Packs (75% increase from 2022), and 798 cats were helped (an 8% increase from 2022).

Food bank provider, Marie Johnson from Broxburn’s The Larder, said, “A couple of years ago I used to go out once or twice a week to collect donations, now I’m going out every single day.

“As soon as I stack the shelves they are being emptied.”

Without food bank support from the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, some pet owners would be forced to surrender their beloved dog or cat, as this anonymous user explains: “I didn’t realise I could get help with dog food. I have been missing meals myself to make sure my two dogs were being fed, thanks to the Larder and the Dog and Cat Home, I can eat as well now.  

“Without the food provision support I would have to give up my two dogs which would be terrible – my pets are key to my mental and physical health and overall wellbeing.  I would like to say thank you for the pet food, I really don’t know what I would do without this service.”

The support of generous donors has kept Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home open for 140 years, giving animals a safe place to recover and find love and helping countless more pets through 87 foodbanks across East and Central Scotland. 

Twenty volunteers collect, organise and distribute donations to pet food bank locations across Scotland each week.

Please contact foodbanks@edch.or.uk if you would like to support the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home by running a pet food drive at your place of work or community group, or if any pet food store/business would like to help with donations.

Jack Russell Terrier rescued after being injured by an escaped dog

Whilst we might not like to think about the prospect, sadly sometimes dogs do injure each other. With the summer months ahead, a national vet charity, PDSA, is offering advice on what to do if your pet-pooch is embroiled in a fight with another dog, after a small terrier encountered an escaped dog out on a spring walk.

When Lucy, a 13-year-old Jack Russell Terrier from Gateshead, and her owner, Janine Webb, headed out for their routine evening walk, neither expected them to come into contact with a roaming dog without an owner in sight.

Thankfully, vets at Gateshead PDSA Pet Hospital were on hand to provide the emergency care needed to tend to Lucy’s sustained injuries following the dog bites. The vet charity is sharing Lucy’s story as the warmer weather lures more dog owners out for lovely walks, meaning more dogs come into contact with one-another.

Janine, Lucy’s devoted owner, said: “We only managed to take a few steps out of my garden when the dog from over the road who had escaped, darted over, and latched onto Lucy. I tried to get Lucy away, but the dog shook her like a rag doll. I quickly realised that he wasn’t going to let go.”

Once Lucy had been freed by two local police offers who happened to be passing, it was clear she had been seriously injured and needed emergency veterinary treatment. Janine contacted her local Gateshead PDSA Pet Hospital for help, and they advised her to visit straight away. Upon arrival, Lucy was thoroughly assessed, and Janine was advised she would need to receive overnight emergency treatment.

“I was heartbroken leaving the Pet Hospital alone. It was the first time we had ever been apart, and I was terrified that we may have said goodbye for good.”

Faith Willsher, a Vet Surgeon at Gateshead PDSA Pet Hospital, said: “Lucy’s injuries were severe. On first examination, she had very prominent bite wounds along her back, some of which were deep. She was admitted for pain relief, antibiotics, a drip, and sedation so we could further assess her wounds.

“Luckily, X-rays showed no internal injuries. However, three deep wounds had caused Lucy’s skin to rip away from the muscle over her back. If left untreated, as well as being extremely painful, they risked becoming infected, which could lead to life-threatening sepsis. All three wounds were carefully cleaned under anaesthetic and stitched up. A drain was placed under the skin to help clear any fluid build-up and prevent infection.”

After a second night of care and monitoring in the Pet Hospital, Lucy returned home to Janine with instructions to rest, wear a cone collar to prevent her licking her stitches, and continue her pain relief and antibiotics. The pair were thrilled to be reunited after a troubling 48 hours apart.

As part of her recovery, Lucy regularly returned to the Pet Hospital to have her wounds cleaned and her dressings reapplied. Unfortunately, as is a common complication following dog bites, the wound became infected despite antibiotics and regular check-ups.

Lucy had to have another anaesthetic to assess the extent of the damage, and sadly, the vet had to remove a large amount of infected skin. A special dressing was applied to protect the area and to help manage the infection and promote healing, which following regular check-ups was soon under control.

One month after the incident, PDSA vets were delighted with Lucy’s progress and signed her off from further treatment.

Janine said: “I honestly don’t know what I would have done if PDSA didn’t exist. I receive benefits, so there’s no way I would have been able to pay for the treatment she needed – it’s money I don’t have to spare.

“I would have gotten into debt or been forced to do the unthinkable and put Lucy to sleep. But she is my world and best friend; she’s the gentlest, loving dog I’ve ever known.”

Faith concluded: “A well-socialised dog will not normally be actively aggressive towards other dogs and won’t go around looking to attack others.  But any dog can become aggressive if they are afraid and feel there is no other way out of the situation. This can be due to a current perceived threat or even past experience making them uncomfortable.

“Although it can be distressing if a dog becomes aggressive, try not to panic. Panic can make the circumstances worse – and if you try to pull your dog out of harm’s way both of you could end up with some nasty injuries. Instead, making a loud noise from a distance can help to distract the other dog, but don’t shout at or make eye contact with them, as this can make them feel more threatened and worsen the situation.

“Luckily, Lucy’s devoted owner ensured she received emergency treatment that allowed her to recover quickly.”

For more expert PDSA advice on what to do if your dog is attacked by another, visit: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/dog-attacks  

Household hazards!

The seven things in the home that could be fatal for your pet this spring

A leading veterinary charity has named seven things in the home that could be fatal when within paws’ reach.  

PDSA vets, together with PDSA Pet Insurance, are reminding pet owners of the surprising household items and features that can create a harmful environment. From knowing the dangers of an open bin or window, to not storing items away, the leading vet charity has identified seven things around our homes which can see pet owners unintentionally putting their furry friends at risk.

PDSA Vet Gemma Renwick said: “With spring in the air, many pet owners are sprucing up their homes as they prepare for their annual spring clean. This is the perfect opportunity to reassess how and where things around our homes are stored or left.

“Pets are curious creatures, and unfortunately this can sometimes lead them into trouble. To ensure your home is as safe as it is clean this spring, here are seven common hazards that may be putting your pet in danger.”

Cleaning products

“Pets are inquisitive by nature and love to explore anything unusual they may find lying around. Make sure you put any cleaning products away carefully, storing them well out of reach, just as you would for young children.

“There are plenty of pet-safe cleaning products available to buy including carpet shampoo, stain removers, and laundry detergent, just remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, as many cleaning products will need to be diluted with water first.

“As pet owners, this is a particularly important step to take to the risk to your pet. After you’ve used a cleaning product, always wipe down the area with clean water to remove any excess product that may otherwise linger.”

Alcohol

“We may not always pay much attention to where items that include alcohol are stored – but what can be safe for pet owners can be a serious danger to our furry friends.

“It’s not just alcoholic beverages that should be kept out of paws’ reach too – take care with any items that contain traces of alcohol, including mouthwash, perfume, aftershave, and glue.”

Batteries

“Batteries are found across the home, from TV remotes to car keys, so there’s ample opportunity for pets to get into trouble!

“Although they’re necessary for household items to work, batteries can be very dangerous when ingested or chewed by pets as they contain strong acids.

“When a battery is punctured or swallowed, the acidic material can leak out and cause burns to a pet’s mouth, throat, and stomach, as well as causing difficulty breathing and swallowing.”

Dustbins

“We all know pets love the smell of food – especially dogs – which can make our dustbins enticing places to explore.

Even if our furry friends enjoy a proper portion size, many still enjoy digging through the trash for an extra portion.

“Mouldy food, discarded foil, skewers, and other waste items can cause obstructions and damage the gut – as well as being potentially toxic to our pets.

“To avoid any temptation, always make sure bins are sealed, emptied regularly, and can’t be easily knocked over.”

Vapes and E-Cigarettes

“We are all aware of the risks of passive smoking to people, but it can be equally as damaging to our pets’ health too.

Second-hand smoke contains over 5,000 different chemicals , which are highly toxic to pets, even in small amounts. This is also true for vapes and e-cigarettes, which have grown in popularity. 

Just like in cigarettes, most vaping liquids contain nicotine – sometimes even more so than cigarettes. As nicotine is very toxic to our pets, it’s important to keep them well away from it.

These are also more likely to be left lying around – leaving pets at risk of cuts from chewing the glass vials.  

Always ensure these are kept out of reach and avoid smoking cigarettes of any kind around your furry friend.”

Open windows

“As the weather gets warmer, be careful not to leave windows open that your four-legged friend could jump or fall out of.

Open windows can be enticing to cats, dogs and other small pets, which may lead to danger – particularly if the window isn’t on the ground floor.

Make sure your pet can’t access a room with an open window or consider installing safety screens so that your furry family member can enjoy the fresh air without potentially injuring themselves by jumping outside.”

Pet treatments

“Remember that just like pet owners, all animals are different, so make sure that if your pet is unwell, you’re using the right treatment and dosage for your furry friend’s species and weight.

“Always read and the follow the instructions supplied with a treatment – and never use medication that isn’t prescribed by your vet.

“The same is also true for any medication you or a family member may be taking – never attempt to treat your pets with anything made for a human, unless prescribed by your vet, and ensure these too are stored safely away.”

The charity’s insurance partner, PDSA Pet Insurance, offers a range of policies to cover cats and dogs for accidents and illness, as well as providing access to a 24/7 veterinary helpline.

Every policy sold raises funds for the charity’s life-saving veterinary work.

To find out more visit pdsa.org.uk/pdsa-petinsurance

XL Bully dog exemption application process is open

Owners urged to apply before 31 July deadline

XL Bully owners can now apply for an exemption certificate so they can continue to legally own their dogs in the long term.

The application scheme opened yesterday (1 April) and runs until 31 July 2024, after which it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully without an exemption certificate.

To get an exemption certificate, owners must apply online or by post, pay a £92.40 fee, obtain third party insurance and neuter and microchip their dogs. Postal applications must be made by 15 July and online applications by midnight on 31 July. Full details of the process and requirements are available on the Scottish Government website.

In line with the initial safeguards introduced on 23 February, XL Bully dogs must continue to be muzzled and kept on a lead in public.

Owners who decide not to keep their dogs can apply for £100 to cover cost of euthanasia/veterinary fees and £100 to compensate for the loss of the animal.

Siobhian Brown, Minister for Community Safety attends Celebrating our Communities, being held at Maryhill Burgh Halls, Glasgow, Scotland, to celebrate community groups. October 6, 2023.

Victims and Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: “These new safeguards are being introduced to protect the public while giving XL Bully owners time to comply with the new rules.

“I would encourage XL Bully owners who wish to keep their dogs from 1 August to apply for an exemption certificate in good time.

“The Scottish Government continues to work with Police Scotland, local authorities, the SSPCA and others to ensure our communities are kept safe.”

Exemption scheme details

Letters: Saving our Songbirds

Dear Editor

With spring in the air, Cats Protection and Songbird Survival have teamed up to offer advice on the best ways to help reduce hunting of songbirds by pet cats in the hope of protecting the threatened population.

A survey of 1,000 cat owners, conducted by Songbird Survival, revealed almost half of cat owners (46%) aren’t aware of ways to reduce cat predation. 

Hunting is a natural, innate behaviour for cats and they feel driven to do it. Not all cats hunt and it generally reduces as they age. However, just a few simple strategies can protect birds and benefit your cat’s welfare too.

Spring is a particularly vulnerable time for songbirds as we are in the nesting and breeding season, which runs up to July as they gather materials to make nests and fledglings begin to leave their nests.

It’s important to protect songbird populations from decline and cat owners and bird lovers alike can make a big difference by putting up nest boxes as well as not using pesticides in their gardens.

Top tips for reducing hunting:

  • Play with your cat for 5-10 minutes every day as it allows them to exhibit their natural hunting behaviour and reduces their motivation to seek out prey. Pick out a toy that mimics prey movement – such as a fishing-rod toy    
  • Feed cats with a premium, meat-rich food as it’s been scientifically shown to reduce hunting tendencies 
  • Keep cats in at night to help songbird populations and to reduce the chances of your cat being involved in a road traffic accident.

For further advice, please visit Songbird Survival’s Get EduCated campaign at https://songbirdsos.org/get-educated or Cats Protection’s website at www.cats.org.uk/garden-and-outdoors  

Yours faithfully,

Nicky Trevorrow, Cats Protection Behaviour Manager

Susan Morgan, CEO of Songbird Survival

More lost pets to return home as microchipping system reformed

Reforms will help reunite thousands of lost or stolen animals every year and deter pet theft

Lost or stolen pets will be reunited with their owners more quickly under reforms to the pet microchipping system announced today (29 March).

With over nine million pet dogs and nine million pet cats in England, it is devasting for owners when they are lost or stolen. Microchipping is the most effective and quickest way of identifying pets, with microchipped dogs more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owner.

Reforms set out today will help reunite stray pets by making microchip records easier to access, improving the accuracy of microchip information, and standardising database operator processes.

The new measures will help deter pet theft by creating more opportunities for suspicious activity to be flagged. This will include requiring database operators to provide a field indicating whether the pet has been reported as ‘missing’, strengthening the process for transferring keepership of a pet by ensuring the current keeper has 28 days to object, and preventing the creation of duplicate records.

The changes also include the creation of a central portal that approved users – including vets, local authorities, and police – can use to search microchip records rather than having to contact separate databases individually, which can delay the time taken for pets to be returned home.

Animal Welfare Minister Lord Douglas Miller said: ““Pets are treasured members of the family so it can be devasting for owners when they are lost or stolen.

“These vital reforms will simplify the microchipping system to make it quicker for vets, local authorities and police to access important information when they need it, helping to safeguard pets from theft and increase the likelihood of lost pets being returned home.” 

Michael Webb, Battersea’s Head of Policy & Public Affairs, said: “Battersea is incredibly pleased with these reforms to the microchipping system, which will improve services for owners, enforcers and rescues alike.

“We see dogs and cats arrive at our centres every day with out-of-date microchips, or sadly no microchip at all, making it near impossible for our staff to reunite people with their pets.

“These reforms, which we have been calling for for some time, will not only help rescues like Battersea reunite more pets in less time, but also hopefully better protect dogs and cats from theft.

“With only several weeks to go until the law requires millions of cats to be microchipped, it is vital that the country’s microchipping system is as effective and robust possible and we will continue to work with Defra and other organisations to ensure that this is the case.”

RSPCA Chief Executive Chris Sherwood said: “Microchipping our pets is so important and provides reassurance and security, should they go missing, that they’ll be able to be identified and returned home quickly.

“A centralised portal with more accurate records will ensure that animals who end up with vets, local authorities and charities, like the RSPCA, can be traced back to their owners as quickly as possible, minimising the stress and anxiety they may feel being away from everything they know.”

British Veterinary Association President Anna Judson said: “Microchipping is a vital tool for vets working to identify lost pets and to successfully reunite them with their owners. The British Veterinary Association has been pressing for action to address issues with the current database system, which have been a source of ongoing frustration.

“These new measures are a positive step forwards and the new portal should help vet teams to check multiple databases quickly, identify and reunite cats and dogs with their owners and provide prompt treatment where needed.”

Today’s announcement follows a government consultation on the issue in which over 96% of respondents expressed support for the measures, and progresses an Action Plan for Animal Welfare pledge and key recommendations from the Pet Theft Taskforce. 

It also builds upon wider work to make it easier for lost, stray, or stolen pets to be returned home safely, including making it compulsory to microchip all pet cats in England by 10 June 2024. 

Westminster is also clamping down on pet theft by taking forward key recommendations from the Pet Theft Task Force, and have recently confirmed Government support for the Pet Abduction Bill.

These commitments are part of a wider Government effort to build on our existing world-leading animal welfare standards. 

Since publishing the Action Plan for Animal Welfare in 2021, Westminster has brought in new laws to recognise animal sentience, introduced tougher penalties for animal cruelty offences; announced an extension of the ivory ban to cover other ivory bearing species; supported legislation to ban glue traps, the import of detached shark fins and measures to ban the advertising and offering for sale of low welfare activities abroad.

Return to Scottish homeland for giant ‘skeleton’ of a horse after charity saves his life

  • Known for their power and size, an emaciated Clydesdale horse has been rescued after being found starving to death
  • Rare Scottish breed normally associated with pulling heavy farm machinery was discovered so weak he can barely carry himself
  • World Horse Welfare’s northern England-based Field Officer shocked to see ‘giant skeleton’

A 15-year-old Clydesdale horse called Seamus has been rescued by World Horse Welfare after he was discovered slowly starving to death in a field with no grass. The gentle giant was so starved when he was found that it was touch-and-go as to whether he would survive.

Thanks to the intensive care he received at the charity’s Lancashire Rescue and Rehoming Centre, Seamus has made a full recovery and been successfully rehomed back to his native country of Scotland.

Seamus was rescued from the hillside field by World Horse Welfare Field Officer Seema Ritson: “When I saw Seamus I was shocked to see a giant skeleton, with bare patches of flesh where there should have been a thick, chestnut coat.

“I could see he’d had to crane his neck through the fence to reach any morsel of forage, but this was simply not enough to sustain him.”

Over the course of eight months Seamus slowly recovered at the charity’s Lancashire centre and his placid temperament, which persisted despite his previous neglect, meant that Seamus was quickly rehomed when ready.  

As the largest equine rehoming charity in the UK, World Horse Welfare rehabilitates the horses and ponies that come into its four rescue and rehoming centres with a view to finding them loving new homes.

Seamus’ rehomer Nikky had previous experience with thoroughbreds and highland ponies but Seamus was her first heavy breed: “Although we are experienced with horses, caring for a Clydesdale has been a learning curve as big as him!

“Transport was a bit tricky due to his size, but we found an experienced transporter of Clydesdales to bring him home to Scotland.

“We cannot thank World Horse Welfare enough for giving him a chance of life and entrusting us with his follow-on care.”

Now the face of the charity’s latest fundraising appeal, Seamus is just one of hundreds of horses rescued and rehomed by World Horse Welfare every year.

“Previous donations helped make this rescue possible – so thank you from the bottom of my heart.” says Seema. “It’s only thanks to donations from those that care about horses that we are able to do this, and we desperately need to be there for so many more horses like Seamus.

“Donations could help us rescue horses in need and provide them with round the clock care, rehabilitation and a brighter future. Any amount can be truly lifechanging.”

More information about the appeal and to donate click HERE

Watchdog identifies ‘multiple concerns’ in veterinary industry

The CMA has today published its main concerns following an initial review into the veterinary sector

  • CMA provisionally decides it should launch a formal Market Investigation.
  • Initial review prompts over 56,000 responses from public and vet industry.

The review by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) highlights multiple concerns in the market, including:

  • Consumers may not be given enough information to enable them to choose the best veterinary practice or the right treatment for their needs.
  • Concentrated local markets, in part driven by sector consolidation, may be leading to weak competition in some areas.
  • Large corporate groups may have incentives to act in ways which reduce choice and weaken competition.
  • Pet owners might be overpaying for medicines or prescriptions.
  • The regulatory framework is outdated and may no longer be fit for purpose.

The CMA has provisionally decided that it should launch a formal Market Investigation focused on its provisional analysis of the issues in the sector and is now consulting on this proposal.  

A Market Investigation enables the CMA to investigate its concerns in full and to intervene directly in markets if it finds that competition is not working well. Along with compelling those under investigation to provide information, it gives the CMA access to a wide range of legally enforceable remedies, such as mandating the provision of certain information to consumers, imposing maximum prescription fees and ordering the sale or disposal of a business or assets.

Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, said: “We launched our review of the veterinary sector last September because this is a critical market for the UK’s 16 million pet owners. The unprecedented response we received from the public and veterinary professionals shows the strength of feeling on this issue is high and why we were right to look into this.

“We have heard concerns from those working in the sector about the pressures they face, including acute staff shortages, and the impact this has on individual professionals. But our review has identified multiple concerns with the market that we think should be investigated further.

“These include pet owners finding it difficult to access basic information like price lists and prescription costs – and potentially overpaying for medicines. We are also concerned about weak competition in some areas, driven in part by sector consolidation, and the incentives for large corporate groups to act in ways which may reduce competition and choice.

“Given these strong indications of potential concern, it is time to put our work on a formal footing. We have provisionally decided to launch a market investigation because that’s the quickest route to enable us to take direct action, if needed.”

The CMA’s concerns

Based on the evidence gathered so far, the CMA has 5 key concerns that it proposes to investigate further:

Consumers may not be given enough information to enable them to choose the best veterinary practice or the right treatment for their needs.

  • Most vet practices do not display prices on their website – of those practices checked, over 80% had no pricing information online, even for the most basic services. Pet owners tend not to shop around between vet practices and assume prices will be similar, although that is not always the case.
  • People are not always informed of the cost of treatment before agreeing to it – around one fifth of respondents to the  CFI said that they were not provided with any cost information before agreeing to tests, around one in 10 said they were not provided with cost information before their pet had surgery, and around half said they were not informed about costs before agreeing to out of hours treatment.
  • A company can own multiple vet practices in a local area without making that clear – for example, only 4 out of 6 of the largest groups don’t change the name or branding when they take over an independently owned vet practice. This means pet owners are not always comparing competitors when choosing a vet practice.

Concentrated local markets, in part driven by sector consolidation, may be leading to weak competition in some areas.

Market concentration measures how many competitors operate in a particular market – the fewer firms operating in a market, the more concentrated it is.

  • In 2013, around 10% of vet practices belonged to large groups, but that share is now almost 60%, and many of the large groups have expressed an intention to continue expanding their business through acquisition of independently owned practices.
  • To illustrate this another way, since 2013 1,500 of the 5,000 vet practices in the UK have been acquired by the 6 large corporate groups (CVS, IVC, Linnaeus, Medivet, Pets at Home and VetPartners).
  • This may reduce the number of business models in locations where most or all of the first opinion practices are owned by one large corporate group, giving less choice to consumers because they tend to choose practices close to home.

Large integrated groups may have incentives to act in ways which reduce choice and weaken competition.

Given the significant and ongoing growth of large corporate groups, the CMA is concerned that:

  • The large, integrated corporate groups (especially those whose business models include significant investment in advanced equipment) may concentrate on providing more sophisticated, higher cost treatments, meaning that consumers are less able to access simpler, lower cost treatments even if they would prefer that option.
  • To varying extents, the large vet groups have also bought businesses which offer related services such as specialised referral centres, out of hours care, diagnostic labs and/or crematoria. These large groups may have the incentive and ability to keep provision of these related services within the group, potentially leading to reduced choice, higher prices, lower quality and exit of independent competitors.

Pet owners might be overpaying for medicines or prescriptions.

  • Vets must use signs in reception or treatment rooms to tell customers that they can get a prescription for medicine and buy it elsewhere, but the CMA is concerned that these may not be effective. While it can be convenient to buy a medicine directly from the vet as part of a consultation, around 25% of pet owners did not know that getting a prescription filled elsewhere was an option – meaning they are missing out on potential savings, even with the prescription fee.
  • Some vet practices may make up to a quarter of their income selling medicines – so there may be little incentive to make pet owners aware of alternatives.
  • The current regulatory regime may contribute to concerns by restricting veterinary practices’ ability to source cheaper medicines online.

The regulatory framework is outdated and may no longer be fit for purpose.

  • The main regulation in the industry dates from 1966, before non-vets were able to own vet practices. It relates to individual practitioners, not practice owners or vet practices as businesses. This means that the statutory regulator, the RCVS, has limited leverage over the commercial and consumer-facing aspects of veterinary businesses, for example how prices are communicated or whether there is transparency about ownership of vet practices or related services.
  • The RCVS has put in place a Practice Standards Scheme which applies to the vet practice rather than individual vets. Only 69% of eligible practices have signed up to this voluntary scheme, meaning that almost a third of the market has not committed to this approach.
  • The provisional view is that outcomes for consumers could be improved if regulatory requirements and/or elements of best practice could be monitored or enforced more effectively.

Next steps

The CMA has launched a 4-week consultation to seek views from the sector on the proposal to launch a market investigation. The consultation closes on 11 April 2023 at which point it will consider the responses received and a decision will be made on how to proceed.

For further information visit the veterinary services case page. This includes the consultation document which sets out more details and statistics on today’s update.

A response from the British Veterinary Association to follow

Millions of pets are overweight with UK facing obesity crisis, warns PDSA

The vet charity for pets in need, PDSA, says the pet obesity crisis needs ‘urgent attention’ as vet teams estimate around half of UK pets are overweight – equating to around 5 million dogs and 4.7 million cats.  

It comes as the charity, alongside its partner Royal Canin, visits Crufts in a bid to tackle the growing pet obesity crisis head on through its ‘Big Weigh In’ campaign.  

PDSA, in partnership with Royal Canin, is inviting pet owners to book free weight checks at participating vet practices nationwide throughout February and March. There are more than 500 vet practices signed up and pet owners can find their local participating practice and book their free appointment here: pdsa.org.uk/WeighUp 

“We’re all guilty of over-indulging at times, but worryingly, 36% of dog owners admit to regularly giving their pet leftovers*,” explains PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing.

“And while a tasty treat now and then, when considered amidst the rest of their food intake, won’t harm your pet, regularly overfeeding them could lead to serious health problems. 

“Since our PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report launched over a decade ago, overweight and obese pets have always been an issue but almost half of veterinary professionals (49%) say they’ve seen an increase in pet obesity in the last two years. And a quarter say obesity is one of the top five welfare issues in dogs. 

“But with more and more people owning a pet these days, especially dogs, we’re now at a point where it needs urgent attention before it gets even worse.”