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First Good Practice Code for Rabbit Welfare launched
APGAW has worked with a team of experts to create the first Good Practice Code for Rabbit Welfare.
APGAW has launched the Code in honour of Rabbit Awareness Week. 

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) has launched the first Good Practice Code for Rabbit Welfare.

Launched to mark Rabbit Awareness Week 2021 (28 June - 4 July), it is the first Code of Practice for a small animal. Despite rabbits being one of the most owned pets in the UK, only larger animals such as dogs, cats, and horses have Statutory Codes of Practice in order to protect and ensure their welfare. 

Working with experts from the RSPCA, Rabbit Welfare Association, PDSA, PFMA, Pets at Home, Animal Welfare Foundation, and the PIF, APGAW hopes that its Good Practice Code will prevent rabbits from suffering with welfare issues because of a general lack of understanding with regard to rabbit needs. 

An infographic has also been made for the public to go alongside the Code, named Rabbit Roundabout. The infographic clearly states the needs of pet rabbits, helping the public to understand what rabbits need with regard to companionship, diet, home size, and daily activities, among other things. 

APGAW hopes that the Rabbit Roundabout infographic will be used in areas such as retail places, rescue and veterinary centres, and other public facing areas, in order to educate the public on proper rabbit welfare.

The code can be found at apgaw.org/wp-content and a PDF of the infographic can be viewed here – APGAW is open to anyone making use of the work. 

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Free event for the global unowned cat community

News Story 1
 International Cat Care (ICatCare) has announced a free, virtual event dedicated to caring for unowned cats to explore new ideas and ways of working.

iCatConnect 2025 takes place on Wednesday, 12 November, and is open to everyone working and volunteering with unowned cats. It will include a line-up of 12 international cat welfare experts, who will consider the bigger picture of unowned cats and explore practical, effective, and inclusive solutions.

Following the session, attendees can put their questions to the experts and share their views. They will also hear frontline challenges and real-world case studies shared by contributors working in shelters, TNR, community cat programmes, and veterinary teams from around the world. 

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Bluetongue reaches Wales for first time in 2025

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has revealed that bluetongue has been confirmed in Wales for the first time in 2025.

In their latest statistics, APHA records a total of 109 cases of BTV-3 or BTV-8 in Great Britain in the 2025-2026 vector season.

The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain this season is 107. This includes 103 cases within the England restricted zone and four cases in Wales.

There has also been two cases of BTV-8, which were both in Cornwall.

As a result of the cases in Wales, a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is enforced in Monmouthshire. Animals can move freely under general license within the England Restricted Zone, however animals with suspected bluetongue must stay on their holding.

All premises testing positive for blue tongue can be viewed on this map.