In the media…
A large focus for the media this week was Defra’s plans to review the current legislation relating to dog ownership.
A large focus for the media this week was Defra’s plans to review the current legislation relating to dog ownership. Most of the main newspapers used the fact dog insurance could become compulsory as their main headline and also commented in great detail about the ‘dangerous’ breeds.
The BBC ran with the story “All dogs could be insured under dangerous breeds plans” and within it mentioned the fact the consultation is “Coming a few weeks before a general election is expected.” This links backs to the BVA’s call to ensure that dog issues do not become a political football during the upcoming election.
The Guardian Online ran with the headline ‘Crackdown on dangerous dogs to make microchips compulsory for all.’ Within this article they focus mostly on how compulsory microchipping may be implemented and what this could mean for pet owners. In regard to how the current legislation works, the article states: “Much of the legal framework stems from the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act, which used to be held up as an example of the poor quality of legislation passed by MPs in haste but has actually proved a resilient and useful law over the past 19 years.”
The Mail online went for a more provocative stance with their article and set of pictures. The headline they used was “Owners will have to insure their dogs: Ministers threaten danger animals with 'Dogbos'”
The Telegraph Online ran a short news piece entitled ‘Dog owners to be forced to take out insurance policies’. The Telegraph also covered the piece in a number of opinion pieces and blogging posts.
Ed West, for example, wrote a very provocative and opinionated piece entitled ‘It's time to ban dangerous dogs from council estates’, which also motivated many readers to comment on the piece. Although sympathetic to those professing their love of certain breeds such as Staffordshire Bull terriers, Ed West did put forward the view that the new proposals would punish all dog owners unduly.
He states rather strongly: “So rather than punishing all dog owners by forcing them to comply by new rules (which criminals will ignore anyway, like they do all these regulation), would it not be fairer to allow councils to ban tenants from owning certain types of dogs in council properties? It wouldn’t eliminate the problem, but it would reduce the number of dangerous dogs – since dangerous dog ownership is contagious, people in nearby private accommodation would also be less inclined to get themselves a dangerous dog.”
Pete Wedderburn has written that “there are many misconceptions about dog bites, driven by the fact that the stories that make the headlines tend to involve severe, sustained attacks by fighting-type dogs."
This all comes as many other news stories focus on other negative issues relating to vets and pets, most notably the increasing number of animal crimes and the supposedly increasing price of vets fees.
The BBC report a “'Sickening' year of animal crimes” and according to their article: “The Scottish SPCA has said calls to its animal helpline rose by 16% last year as it dealt with a string of "sickening and harrowing" cases.”
Furthermore, the Mail Online has also picked up on a worry raised by Canine Health Concern that pets are receiving too many vaccines. The Mail ran with the headline: “‘Vaccines 'are making our dogs sick as vets cash in’” The article included statements such as “Profit-hungry drug companies and vets are 'frightening' dog owners into inoculating their pets more often than necessary, according to Canine Health Concern.”
You should also be aware that a number of other press releases from pet insurance companies have been circulated, many lamenting the supposedly high vet fees that clients have to pay.
The BBC report a “'Sickening' year of animal crimes”.
Pete Wedderburn has also written a blog about this which can be read here.
On a lighter note, some press have picked up on the story about a cat that has survived weeks eating frozen peas. The remarkable story can be read here.
As well as this, apparently big cat sightings are on the up. According to The Sun “There have been more than 38 sightings of "big cats" in the UK over the last four years” and, in fact, “The dossier by Natural England lists more than 100 sightings of exotic, non-native and unidentified animals in England since 2005.” To read the article click here.
RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.
