TRADE TALK | PET GAZETTE | 5
SPEAKER’S CORNER
Danny Brown has owned and managed Three Oaks Animal Kabin, at The Courtyard Craft
Centre, Lytchett Minster, Dorset for 13 years. He sells birds, poultry, rabbits, guinea pigs
and small animals as well as food, bedding, toys, houses. He also takes animals in for
boarding. He has been breeding animal and birds for 40 years since he was six years old
VETERINARY
NURSE COUNCIL
AGREES TO EU VET
REGISTRATION POST-
BREXIT CHANGES
The proposals suggested a closer alignment
of the process for EEA applicants to that
which exists for applicants from outside
the EEA
The new Animal Welfare Act came into
force in October and was formed by the
government, DEFRA and stakeholders
within the sector comprised of suppliers,
manufacturers, distributors, large retailers,
service providers and animal rights
protection organisations. No discussions
were had with small independent pet
shop owners, so how can something that
affects all pet shops not be discussed with
independents? Had it been discussed with
all parties it affected, issues could have
been raised.
There are serious issues about the
implementation of the act and its timescale.
I was given eight weeks to comply, but
the councils have been given three years
to train their officers, so we are being
inspected by untrained or partially trained
officers. Having spoken to pet shops in
my area and other council areas, there
seems to be different interpretations on
the meaning of the act. Due to these
interpretations I’ve been told I don’t need a
breeding licence, but the guidance notes
say I do so - this leads to confusion.
I currently breed female rabbits, each are
housed in hutches outside and according
to the new legislation each should have
permanent access to an additional run. The
temperature should be no lower than 12°c
and no higher than 26°c, they must have
access to growing grass, so under the new
regulations my hutches should have air
conditioning to maintain the temperature.
The run cannot be made of mesh or grid
flooring, meaning the rabbits can dig out
or foxes and badgers can dig in, whilst
heating and cooling the world outside.
Then customers will home them in a hutch
outside with no heating or air conditioning
meaning the rabbits will not be acclimated
to weather.
www.petgazette.biz
Another contradiction is rabbits must not
be placed on their backs but if they are to
be sexed accurately, they need be for a
very short period of time.
Limited access to animals and birds
could lead to a decline of the pet industry
and an increase in mental health issues
within the population as having pets
has been proven to lower stress, anxiety
and depression. It also teaches children
valuable life lessons such as the care and
compassion animals need to survive,
exposure to grief and ways to deal with it.
Also over the years I’ve had countless work
experience students from local schools
and colleges in my area, some of them
have had physical, mental and learning
disabilities, and I think all flourished in
the time they have spent here on their
placements. But now I’m having to turn
the schools and colleges down when they
contact me asking for placements.
Like all small independent businesses
I struggle to compete with the big chains,
and rely on the reputation of my knowledge
and loyal customers, as I do not have a
new licence and I am being stopped from
selling or showing my birds, guinea pigs,
rabbits and poultry. This is until I complete
the alterations to my shop and outside
area. Due to the cost of around £30,000,
this may take me until summer, as I am
unable to afford this all at once.
Independent pet shops are the backbone
of the industry, if independents close due
to new regulations and cost, this leaves
Facebook, Gumtree, backyard breeders
and dealers which is not always regulated
or monitored. These sellers can make more
money selling birds and animals in a week
than a shop can do in a month. This whole
situation has left me considering closing my
business and working outside the industry.
The Veterinary Nurses (VN) Council, part of
the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
(RCVS) has agreed changes to how it will
register veterinary nurses who qualified in
the European Economic Area (EEA) should
the UK depart the EU without a deal on
March 29.
Changes to the registration process for
veterinary nurses educated in EEA were
discussed at the most recent meeting of
VN Council on Wednesday 6 February 2019
with the proposals suggesting a closer
alignment of the process for EEA applicants
to that which exists for applicants from
outside the EEA.
EEA applicants will continue to be
able to apply for permission to work in a
veterinary practice while preparing for the
examination. Where there is significant
differences in content and scope then these
applications will be rejected. The option to
make up any deficient areas while working
in practice will no longer be available in the
event of a no-deal Brexit.
Holders of qualifications accredited by
the Accreditation Committee for Veterinary
Nurse Education (ACOVENE) will continue
to have direct access to the Register as
its accreditation criteria is based on UK
standards.
The decision was made by VN Council
on the day that the House of Lords passed
a statutory instrument that would, similarly,
allow the RCVS to continue to register EEA
veterinary surgeons with qualifications
accredited by the European Association
of Establishments for Veterinary Education
(EAEVE) after the UK leaves the EU.
March 2019