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Details revealed ahead of National Pet Month 2023
"We want pet owners to know there is help available" – Nicole Paley.
April campaign to focus on responsible care on a budget.

The theme for this year's National Pet Month (NPM) campaign is supporting pet owners feeling the pinch, as the cost of living crisis continues.

Taking place from 1 April to 1 May, the campaign will provide practical support for pet owners and carers, sharing tips on how to meet animals' welfare needs, while being responsibly in budget.

Over the course of the month, NPM will broadcast live sessions for pet owners and carers, covering topics such as pet nutrition, the importance of regular health checks, vaccinations, dental health and cleaning up after pets, led by pet and veterinary professionals.

Nicole Paley, from NPM, commented: “Post pandemic, it's a challenging time for many caring for animals, so it's important that now, more than ever, National Pet Month offers good, practical support and advice pet owners.”

Other topics that will be considered over NPM include puppy and kitten training, creating a dog friendly office, looking out for changes in pet behaviour, the benefits of taking on an older rescue animal and being a sustainable pet owner, with much more in the works. 

Nicole continued: “Although we recognise a pet is part of our family, some owners have had to make the hardest of decisions to give up a pet for adoption with many pets finding themselves back at rescue or suffering from separation issues as people have gone back to the office.

“With this in mind, we want pet owners to know there is help available and encourage them to seek support from pet organisations before taking this difficult step.

“Sometimes just one conversation with a vet or pet professional can make a positive difference for you and your animal companion. There's a lot of advice out there; no-one needs to feel on their own.

“By joining National Pet Month 2023 we can all work together to care for our pets responsibly.”

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

News Story 1
 With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.

The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.