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Written question asked by Neil Hudson (Conservative) on Tuesday, 28 June 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 July 2022 (named day). It was answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury (Conservative) on Monday, 4 July 2022 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dogs: Veterinary Services

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of increased reported acts of (a) canine blood sampling, (b) canine artificial insemination and (c) other veterinary surgery being carried out by laypersons and not veterinary surgeons.

Answer

The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 prohibits anyone who is not a veterinary surgeon registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) from undertaking any surgical procedure. Concerns about a person’s legitimacy to practice should be reported to the RCVS as Regulator for the Act. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 requires owners or handlers of animals to protect them from harm and to provide for their welfare in line with good practice. A breach of these provisions may lead to imprisonment, a fine, or both.

The 2006 Act is backed up by the statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs which provides owners and keepers with general welfare information, including a specific section on how to protect them from pain, suffering, injury and disease. That section of the Code of Practice recommends owners seek veterinary advice before breeding their dogs and that owners should take all reasonable steps to ensure that they are able to provide the care required during pregnancy.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
26916
Session
2022-23
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Dogs Regulation Veterinary services
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk