Scottish and Welsh vets have launched 12 pledges ahead of their respective country’s parliamentary elections on May 6.
Vets from the British Veterinary Association (BVA) in Scotland and Wales are calling on all parliamentary candidates to sign up to the key pledges to enhance animal health and welfare, support the veterinary profession, and protect public health.
The 12 pledges are:
1. Boost the veterinary workforce
2. Protect the welfare of animals at slaughter
3. Direct agriculture funding towards improving animal health and welfare
4. Commit to evidence-based disease control
5. Improve welfare during transport for Scotland’s livestock
6. Enshrine animal sentience in law
7. Strengthen legislation against illegal puppy imports
8. Ban the import of dogs with cropped ears
9. Ban aversive training devices
10. Improve traceability in dog breeding
11. Tighten the regulation of fireworks
12. Put animal welfare on the national curriculum
Launching the manifesto in Scotland, BVA branch president Kathleen Robertson said: “In creating this manifesto we’ve set out the issues that matter.
“The (veterinary) profession has an integral role to play in keeping our pets healthy, protecting animals and the public against disease threats and maintaining high standards in our food chain and we know how hard vets have worked to meet demand and prioritise animal health and welfare throughout the pandemic.
“We’d like to see candidates from all parties commit to action on the most pressing animal welfare issues, as well as efforts to boost capacity in the workforce so that vets can meet the post-Brexit demand for services like certifying animal products for import and export.
“Following the elections, we’re looking forward to engaging with the new parliamentary intake to put these pledges into effect.”
