Animal Welfare in Severe Weather conditions

The Met Office warns that parts of Britain are likely to shiver with temperatures remaining below zero today, while blizzards and snow topping 25cm (nearly 10in) over higher ground are expected to cause severe disruption on Friday 18 January.

During severe weather, although priority will be given to human needs, the welfare of animals is also important. DEFRA has provided general advice on keeping a variety of animals safe:

Advice to Farmers

During periods of bad weather farmers will already be working to ensure livestock is protected from the severe weather and that food and water is available. Farmers will be best placed to identify and source feed and water for their animals, for example by co-operating with neighbours if supplies run short or access is difficult.

It is important to ensure that where animals are kept outside drinking water troughs etc. are kept free of ice and that if pipes and other water supply fittings are blocked water is taken to the animals regularly.

Advice to pet and horse owners

Where pets (such as rabbits and guinea pigs) are normally kept outside in hutches during mild winters, owners should consider moving them into garages/sheds to provide additional thermal insulation. Where cages cannot be moved additional protection or insulation should be provided wherever possible. It is also important to ensure a supply of drinking water. Ice should be cleared from drinking water containers and the spouts should be defrosted regularly.

As with farmed livestock, horses and ponies usually kept outside during the winter should have access to shelter at all times and a regular provision of feed and water ensured. Where such provision is inadequate, owners should consider moving the animals and/or permanently stabling in the interim period. Water supplies for all horses and ponies should be checked regularly and alternatives sources supplied if mains failure occurs.

Live animal transport

Transporters are required by law not to transport animals in a way that is likely to cause injury or undue suffering. So in cold conditions transporters must check their intended route is safe and clear before any journey commences. If journeys do commence then drivers should have contingency plans to care for the animals in case of any problems encountered.

Sources of help and advice

• RSPCA can be contacted by calling – Telephone 0300 1234 999.
• NFU Members – Telephone 0870 845 8458

Photograph: Graham Lawrence/Demotix/Corbis

Prestigious award for Professor Brian Perry

The University of Edinburgh’s Honorary Professor Brian Perry has won the 2012 Trevor Blackburn Award in recognition of his contributions to animal health and welfare.

Professor Perry (BVMS 1969, MSc 1975) is an international consultant specialising in livestock health and broader agricultural development issues in countries of the developing world.

For 20 years he led multidisciplinary programmes at the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi. He is a Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford, an Honorary Professor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and a prolific author of scientific books.

The award honours Professor Perry’s personal commitment to poverty alleviation by tackling diseases of global significance.

In accepting the accolade, he thanked the British Veterinary Association, which made the award, for its “recognition of British veterinary contributions to sustainable and inclusive economic development in emergent nations of the world.”

For more information, please visit :

www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/vet/studying/careers/brian-perry 

Anaethesia team help ease European Brown Bear's pain

R (D)SVS’s vet nurse Hayley Walters visited a very special patient at Camperdown Wildlife Centre in Dundee, on the 20^th December 2012. Star, a European Brown Bear, required root canal work to be done to one of her canine teeth. Veterinary dentist specialist Norman Johnson was called in to perform the dental work and it was The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine anaesthesia department who were asked to keep the bear unconscious for the procedure. New anaesthesia resident Karla Borland and Hayley rose to the challenge and Star remained completely unaware of everything happening to her during the 90 minute procedure.

Since Hayley worked with Moon Bears in China for over 3 years, she was asked to assist  and was more than happy to be involved in the case. She used the opportunity to brush up on her field anaesthesia skills which she uses when teaching animal welfare to vet students overseas. Hayley said, “In 2013 JMICAWE are planning several neutering workshops in Asia and we can never expect to have full veterinary hospital facilities. Field anaesthesia is always a little more stressful and challenging and it is important that we are comfortable and as prepared as possible in these situations before we actually try to go and teach in them.”

Star recovered quickly after her anaesthetic and her mate Comet, who was concerned but lightly sedated in the neighbouring den as the procedure went on, were reunited later that day.

The Year Ahead

Welcome back everyone after a well deserved Christmas break! The team here at JMICAWE has lots to look forward to and many exciting activities planned for the New Year!

We'll soon be delivering our 3rd Animal Welfare Science training workshop in India, in partnership with the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Kerala, and have a number of events planned in China also. We'll also be expanding our horizons, hoping to deliver animal welfare education and veterinary training alongside some new partners in countries where we've not worked before and are very excited about broadening our impact.

As always our message will be that of improving the lives of all animals through education and collaboration, training experts in animal welfare and raising the standards of animal welfare wherever we go.

Happy New Year!

Top tips for pets during festive season

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has teamed up with its ambassador, Paul O'Grady, to share top tips to keep pets happy this Christmas. Paul explained: “Everyone goes a bit crazy at Christmas, chucking up tinsel, knocking back mince pies and having everyone you’ve ever met round for a party. Then it’s straight into New Year, with all the fireworks, and even more food and drink.....and while it’s all great fun for us, it can be a bit much for our four-legged friends, so I’ve teamed up with Battersea to share my top tips for ensuring your animals have a brilliant time as well.”

His tips are as follows:

• Make sure your pets have their own space. When the house is heaving it can be easy for the poor pooch or moggy to feel a bit overwhelmed, so create a comfy den for them away from the action where they can retire if things get too much. Choose an area they are familiar with and give them a tasty treat to make it more enjoyable, but don’t lock them in. If you have excitable pets make sure you tidy up any loose Christmas tree light cables.


• Ensure they don’t escape. When everyone arrives, remind them to always shut the external doors behind them. You can even put a sign up, otherwise it’s all too easy for pets to wander outside and take themselves for a festive stroll.


• Stick to your normal routine. Try not to upset your dog’s usual routine as it could make him restless and stressed. If he’s used to three walks a day, or any other regular activity, try not to deviate from it too much.


• Brief visitors on the pet house rules. If you have rules about where your pets go and which furniture they can go on make sure all your visitors are aware, so Uncle Jim doesn’t start encouraging the dog onto your brand new sofa and getting him into bad habits.


• Keep an eye on the calories. We might all be eating like it’s our last day on earth, but there’s no need for the dog or cat to pork out. Tell visitors not to give them titbits so you can monitor how much they get. There’s no harm in a few cheeky morsels, but if everyone gives the dog a sausage it’s not going to be long before you get a pooch with a very upset stomach.


• Avoid certain foods. With all the goodies floating around it can be easy for pets to snatch a treat, but make sure your dog avoids chocolate, grapes, raisins and onions as they can be poisonous. Turkey bones can be dangerous for pets, so make sure they can’t get any out of the bin.


• Don’t let fireworks ruin New Year’s Eve. The flashing lights, sudden loud bangs, and unusual noises can spook even the calmest pet, and it’s not surprising, as they have no idea what’s going on. There’s lots you can do to keep dogs and cats calm, and Battersea have heaps of advice you can follow here.

Season’s Greetings from Scotland!

Merry Christmas from all at the University of Edinburgh's Jeanne Marchig Centre for International Animal Welfare Education (JMICAWE) and our Animal Welfare team.

We have been delighted to have achieved so much in 2012 including:

1.  Extending the BVM&S curriculum to incorporate more animal welfare, animal ethics and animal behaviour education for our undergraduates

2.  Implementing the new online Masters in International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law (MSc IAWEL)

3.  Working with our partners including WSPA, IFAW, UFAW, Animals Asia and RSPCA International to continue to support animal welfare education internationally.

4.  Further develop the Masters in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare (MSc AABAW) with SRuC.

5.  Organise Animal Health & Welfare workshops in India

6.  Organise Animal Welfare training for vets in China

Many thanks for all your support in 2012 and we look forward to working with you towards improving animal welfare education in 2013.

Best wishes

Nat, Heather, Jane, Hayley, Fritha, Susan, Willie and everybody involved in our animal welfare education team.

MSPs SAY BUYING PETS ONLINE IS NOT THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT CROSS PARTY GROUP ON ANIMAL WELFARE

News Release - Thursday 6 December 2012

MSPs SAY BUYING PETS ONLINE IS NOT THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

The Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Animal Welfare is warning people in Scotland not to impulse buy pets as Christmas presents.  The situation is particularly urgent at this time of year as 'gifted' animals are more likely to be abandoned or need re-homing come January, when the novelty wears off.

The Group stresses that people should especially beware of buying a pet online.  Many unscrupulous breeders take advantage of the Christmas season to make money and what people see on a website is not always what they get in real life - if they receive anything at all.  Hundreds of cases have been documented of puppies and kittens being sold online that turned out to be underage, sick or not properly socialised.  There have also been cases of illegal dog breeds, such as pitbulls, being advertised online, or breeds of cats with inherent welfare problems.

Christine Grahame MSP, Convener of the Cross Party Group on Animal Welfare said:

“Christmas is the worst possible time to introduce a young, vulnerable animal to a busy household.  Once the holidays are over, reality kicks in and the responsibilities of caring for a pet can be too much for some people, with tragic consequences.

“The Group has received information about the severe animal welfare problems related to buying pets online, and we will continue to highlight this trade in the New Year.  Many puppies and kittens are bred for the Christmas market and advertised online. Buying on the internet, without doing proper research and seeing the new pet with its mother, can be buying into needless suffering.”

NB:

The Cross Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Animal Welfare http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msps/41364.aspx brings together MSPs from all parties and almost fifty associate members and groups with a shared interest in animal welfare including Professor Nat Waran from JMICAWE.  The Group’s office bearers are: Convener – Christine Grahame MSP; Vice-Conveners – Claudia Beamish MSP and Alison Johnstone MSP; Secretary – Libby Anderson, OneKind.

For more information, contact Christine Grahame MSP – Christine.Grahame.MSP@scottish.parliament.uk or 0131 348 6084