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Battersea urges compulsory microchipping

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is renewing its calls on the Government to make microchipping compulsory, as the animal charity reveals over two thirds of dogs arriving at its door are not microchipped.

Battersea is making the call at the start of Microchipping Month, which runs throughout June. Each day Battersea receives an average of 11 stray dogs, many of which never see their owners again, but microchipping would dramatically increase their chances of being reunited.
 
A microchip is a tiny chip inserted into the scruff of a dog’s neck by a trained professional in a simple procedure. The chip has a unique code which when scanned with a special reader can be matched to the owner's details on a central database. Rescue centres, animal wardens and vets are all able to scan for this permanent form of identification.
 
Battersea’s Head of Intake & Assessing Liz McWalter says: “Every time a dog arrives at our door without a microchip I am dismayed. It is such a simple, quick, cheap and painless procedure, and one that can make the difference between never seeing your dog again, and being reunited quickly. I would urge everyone to chip their pet straight away.”

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.