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Charity calls for Welsh cat microchipping law
Microchipping cats will become mandatory in England next year.
Cats Protection has launched a new email campaign.

Animal welfare charity Cats Protection is urging members of the public in Wales to email their MSs in support of compulsory microchipping for cats.

Although microchipping can help reunite owners with missing cats, last year’s Cats and Their Stats (CATS) report by Cats Protection revealed that 28 per cent of cats in Wales are not microchipped.

In England, it will be mandatory for pet cats to be microchipped from 10 June 2024, although the new law will not apply to Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. It is already a legal requirement across the UK for dogs to be microchipped.

Since the UK Government announced the rule change for England, the Welsh government has been under pressure to act, with RSPCA Cymru also calling on members of the Senedd to pass similar legislation.

The Welsh government is considering extending compulsory microchipping to cats as part of its Animal Welfare Plan, but no commitment to changing the law has been made.

Cats Protection’s advocacy and government relations officer for Wales Daryl Gordon said: “Microchipping is already compulsory for dogs throughout the whole of the UK, and from next year it will also be compulsory for cats in England. This is clearly a very important pet welfare issue, yet there are still no plans for this to be introduced for cats in Wales.

“As a nation of pet lovers, we don’t want to see Wales left behind when it comes to cat welfare. We’re urging the Welsh Government to get behind this issue so that cats in Wales receive the same protection that will soon be given to cats over in England.

“Compulsory microchipping of pet cats would ensure more cats can be reunited with their owners if they are lost or missing. It also helps to identify cats which have sadly died in road accidents and helps to reduce the pressure on animal charities which may find it impossible to trace the owner of an un-microchipped stray or lost cat, despite their best efforts.”

Cats Protection have made an email template available online for anyone wishing to write to their MSs in support of mandatory cat microchipping.

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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.