Legislation
All pet welfare is protected by legislation which places a duty of care on all pet keepers.
- British Veterinary Association - Advice for Pet Owners, includes advice:
- that dogs and cats should be wormed effectively and regularly to avoid spread between pets and from pets to humans, where serious disease may be caused
- keep dogs and cats out of contact with animal feed troughs to reduce the risk of them transferring disease on their paws
- keep cats out of feed stores, as they may carry parasites which can cause abortion in sheep
- Some types of pets that are released, or escape, into the wild can be a danger to our native wildlife. Invasive non-native species are one of the major threats to native wildlife, causing increased predation, disease or even extinction of native species. It is therefore best that pets do not escape to the wild, and so GB Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) provides general guidance on biosecurity and a Pet Code of Practice.
Expert veterinary guidance
Expert veterinary guidance on protection of health and care of companion animals (dogs and puppies, cats and kittens, rabbits, guinea pigs, small pets, birds and ornamental fish) covering, where appropriate, guidance on vaccination, worming and external parasite control, is provided by:
Fish
The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association provides care sheets for coldwater, tropical freshwater and marine fish as well as for invertebrates, aquatic reptiles and plants and guidance on protecting against toxins from corals (palytoxins produced by zoantharians).
Horses
BVA Animal Welfare Foundation produce films on horse welfare.