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Wales to develop licensing scheme for mobile animal exhibits
Examples of mobile animal exhibits (MAEs) include travelling falconry and hawing displays, exotic pets taken to schools and reindeer at Christmas events.
Consultation also shows support for ban on circus animals 

The Welsh Government is set to develop a licensing scheme for mobile animal exhibits, following a consultation.

Examples of mobile animal exhibits (MAEs) include travelling falconry and hawing displays, exotic pets taken to schools and reindeer at Christmas events.

A consultation earlier this year found the majority of respondents favoured a licensing scheme over registration. The government will now develop the scheme in partnership with stakeholders and enforcement agencies.

Announcing the decision, cabinet secretary Lesley Griffiths, said: “There is concern the welfare needs of some animals kept by MAEs, including circuses, cannot be met in a travelling environment. MAEs are diverse and there is no standard licensing regime or requirement for routine inspection.”

Government officials are now beginning work on developing the scheme, which Griffiths said “will not be done in isolation”.

She added: “We will need to engage with stakeholders and enforcement agencies in its development, particularly on how we define MAEs, as well as working collaboratively with our counterparts in the other devolved administrations to ensure there are no cross border issues.”

The consultation also asked for views on banning the use of wild animals in circuses. Of the almost 1,000 responses to the consultation, the majority answered only this question and there was strong support for a ban. The licensing scheme will include animals in circuses, but officials will consider this as a separate work stream.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.