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Pet theft reform campaigners nominated for award
The petition received over 143,000 signatures.
Dr Daniel Allen and collaborators nominated for Petition Campaign of the Year.

Campaigners who petitioned for pet theft reform have been nominated for Petition Campaign of the Year Award at the fifth annual Your UK Parliament Awards.

The petition, 'Make pet theft a specific offence with custodial sentences', started by Dr Daniel Allen from Keele in 2020, received over 143,000 signatures. This petition was set up in the wake of two earlier petitions, one from 2018, and one from 2019, which received 107,000 and 117,000 signatures respectively. 

Dr Allen set up the petition in collaboration with Debbie Matthews, CEO of the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance, and supported by Dr Marc Abraham OBE, founder of the Lucy's Law campaign to end puppy farming, Freya Woodhall, who had been personally affected by dog theft after her dog Willow was stolen in 2018, and Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today Magazine, and John Cooper QC, all of whom are nominated for the award. 

Held in October 2022, a parliamentary debate discussed two of Dr Allen's petitions, and prior to this the campaigners met with Tom Hunt MP, who led the debate, to discuss their concerns. 

Following Dr Allen's campaign, the Government launched its Pet Theft Taskforce in May 2021, where Dr Allen was invited to give evidence. A testament to the importance and effectiveness of the campaign, the Government announced in September 2021 that it would make pet abduction a specific criminal offence

Catherine McKinnell MP, Chair of the Petitions Committee, said: “These campaigns demonstrate so powerfully how petitions can raise awareness of issues that might otherwise struggle to be heard in Parliament.

“The nominees have each shown how to organise a successful campaign, building on their petitions by gathering support from others affected by the same issue, charities, influential supporters, and the wider public.

“I have been moved by our nominees’ passion, determination, and ideas for how to tackle the problems they’ve set their minds to, and congratulate them on their achievements.”

The Your UK Parliament Awards judging panel has said that it will select the winners shortly, and will announce this in due course. 

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Webinar to explore AMR in vet dentistry

News Story 1
 The WSAVA has invited veterinary professionals to a webinar on responsible antibiotic usage in dentistry.

On 19 November 2025, at 1am, Dr J Scott Weese and Dr Brooke Niemiec will share the latest advice for antimicrobial use. They will present research on oral bacterology, and explain how attendees can choose appropriate antibiotics.

The session will cover pre-, intra- and post-operative guidelines, with recommendations for various pathologies.

The webinar is designed to support veterinary professionals to make informed decisions and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Attendees can register here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
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.