16/06/20 Classes start again

Classes start following social distancing protocols, maximum of 5 people per class plus instructor

Telephone to discuss your requirements, places are limited 

Do you have a dog, cat or ferret and intend to travel to the EU using a Pet Passport after the end of January 2020? If so, please be aware that your plans may need to change if there is a no-deal Brexit.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, then Pet Passports will be of no effect for travel to and from the EU. The UK is likely to be regarded by the EU as an 'unlisted third country' in which case the procedure for travel with your pet dog, cat or ferret will be far more complicated than it is at present: -

1. The pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after its last rabies vaccination.

2. This must be sent to an EU approved blood testing lab and the result must show a minimum level of rabies antibodies

3. You then must wait 3 months from the date of the successful blood sample being taken before travelling

4. No more than 10 days before travelling you have to go to an Official Veterinarian to get an animal health certificate which will be valid for 10 days to travel into the EU and up to 4 months for re-entry into the UK.

Dogs travelling to Finland, Eire or Malta must be treated for tapeworm 1 to 5 days before arrival.

You will only be able to enter the EU through a Travellers' Point of Entry. 

For repeat travel into the EU you won’t need repeated blood tests as long as you’ve got an up to date rabies vaccination history BUT you will still need a new health certificate for each trip to the EU.

The current DEFRA advice is that you should contact your vet at least 4 months before travelling.

The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill didn't get debated on 4th September so it hasn't passed through all the stages of its passage through the House of Commons. Until that happens, it can't go to the House of Lords and so it can't become law and so, for the time being at least, the maximum prison sentence for cruelty to animals and for dog fighting will remain at 6 months in England & Wales. The proposal hasn't been shelved completely, but there is so far no new date for when it will return, and you'll be only too well aware of all the other things that are happening in Parliament at the moment (or rather not happening in Parliament)

When Parliament was re-prorogued on recently, it meant that the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill was lost. However, Theresa Villiers the Secretary of State DEFRA stated in the commons on 31/10/19 that it will be put back on the table once Conservatives have been re-elected. All we can do now is to wait the outcome of the forthcoming General Election and hope then that a new date is set to progress the bill.

Royal Assent: Finn’s Law

 

The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill, also known as Finn's Law, was introduced by Sir Oliver Heald MP to make it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to a service animal. The campaign for the bill followed the stabbing of police dog, Finn, in the line of duty in 2016.

What is the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill 2019?

The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill 2017-19 was introduced to the House of Commons on 13 June 2018. 

The Bill,

• provides for increased protection for service animals by amending section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the “2006 Act”).

• addresses public concerns about attacks on service animals, where a defendant accused of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal could claim they were protecting themselves and are justified in using physical force against a service animal.

The Act received Royal Assent on 8 April 2019, having completed all of its parliamentary stages. It becomes the Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Act 2019. The Act will come into force in June 2019.

Oct 2018 - Places now available in Wednesday puppy class 

Sept 2018 - New indoor arena complete for use during inclement weather. All dogs and owners can now train throughout the winter months without getting wet.