Better Animal Welfare

24/11/2021

Can you offer a foster place for pets who need refuge?

Some abusers use their victim's dogs to inflict harm and further their campaign of control. Here's the charity working hard to tackle this

13/07/2021

Love this!

18/06/2021

We shouldn't measure 'intelligence' based on our human understanding of it. Animals display intelligence in their own unique ways, and all creatures capable of feeling pain should be protected by law.

We think a dog is clever if it can learn to pull clothes out of a washing machine for us, but then assume that cows and sheep are stupid because we see them plodding about in fields with no human interaction.

We also should be careful about making decisions on who to protect based on whether an animal is 'cute'. It's great that My Octopus Teacher. has put a spotlight on the sentience of octopuses, but is that because we again see the 'cute' factor of a relationship between the octopus and human?

Group argues some invertebrates are extremely intelligent and should be protected from suffering

31/05/2021

This bank holiday is a scorcher, and while we don't want to put a downer on things, it's important to keep an eye on your dogs with all the sunshine and heat we have.

What tips do you have for keeping dogs cool and safe in the sunshine?

Here are a few:

- Provide plenty of shade
- If your dog is spending a long time lying in the sun, consider putting them inside where it's cooler
- Have lots of fresh water available for drinking
- Limit playtime : dogs don't always know when it's too much for them so owners have to make a call
- Do not leave your dog in a car in this weather!

Dogs can get sunstroke just like we can, so limit their time and exercise in the sun.

27/05/2021

How often have you passed a field of sheep and seen some limping? By the time a sheep is limping, it is already in a lot of pain.

90% of lameness in British sheep is down to footrot - which can be reduced massively if treated promptly and preventative measures are taken.

We've created an infographic based on research conducted by the UK Government's Animal Welfare Committee (we're not associated with them, we just used their research).

See the full infographic here: https://betteranimalwelfare.org.uk/infographic/lameness-in-sheep-infographic/

11/05/2021

Today's Queen's Speech referenced how Animal Welfare standards will be a priority over the next year. Read our breakdown of the key points about animal welfare here: https://betteranimalwelfare.org.uk/blog/queen-speech-animal-welfare-uk/

Here are the key points from the 2021 Queen's Speech about changes to Animal Welfare laws.

30/04/2021

Lots of people have got dogs and puppies over the past year with lockdown in the UK...

So, what's the ONE tip you'd give to a new dog owner??

29/04/2021

About time!

We're delighted to announce that the bill to increase maximum sentences for animal cruelty from six months to five years has finally passed through parliament! 🎉 Blue Cross has campaigned for this law, with other animal welfare charities, for many years and we are delighted that progress has happened. This law will now send a message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated.

29/04/2021

According to the BBC, a year after lockdown started, animal shelters and rescues are now starting to see a big rise in older puppies with behavioural problems being handed in. It's likely we're going to see rescues struggling to rehome higher numbers of lockdown puppies and dogs as owners return to work.

28/04/2021

Searches in the UK for "adopt a dog" increased by 93% over lockdown.

27/04/2021

A slide show version of our 'Life After Lockdown' infographic!

Read the full article here: https://betteranimalwelfare.org.uk/infographic/preparing-dog-for-life-after-lockdown/

26/04/2021

Have you thought about what life will look like for our pets after lockdown?

Are you making these simple changes to your dog's routine to get them ready for when life goes back to 'normal'?

19/04/2021

Some of us are a bit anxious about returning to 'normal', but what about our dogs?

Did you know that some of those little changes like having visitors over or visiting a beer garden could actually be really stressful situations for your dog because they've not been used to socialising over lockdown?

We've put together a handy tip sheet about some of the things to look out for when preparing your dog for life after lockdown.

From helping get your dog used to being alone when you return to work, to tips on introducing your dog to new visitors in your garden.

Find out more over in our resources section (link in bio) or at https://betteranimalwelfare.org.uk/infographic/preparing-dog-for-life-after-lockdown/

18/04/2021

Sheep aren't stupid, but why do people think they are? If you knew that sheep were actually pretty complex creatures, would it change the way you think about them?

14/04/2021

What's the aim of Better Animal Welfare?

👉Well, there's so much useful and valuable info and research out there about animal welfare and what can be done to improve it - but a lot of it gets ignored...

The aim of Better Animal Welfare is to share that info in an easy to consume way so that it's accessible to all.

👉We aim to do that by creating easy to consume and visual educational content about animal welfare, with the hope that it will encourage us all to make changes to improve animal welfare standards.

Through our social media, visual content, online presence, infographics and learning resources, we will share information, news and research about animal welfare.

👉We aim to be collaborative in our approach - working with the farming industry, the public and anyone involved with animals.

But why?

We want to improve animal welfare standards for all animals - across pets, farm animals and wildlife. We believe in working collaboratively to encourage and promote real world changes. These changes might be small, but they make a big difference to the animals they affect.

🤓Find out more: https://betteranimalwelfare.org.uk

11/04/2021

Sheep can recognise up to 50 other 'sheep faces'! They really do have friends in their flocks.

Check out our infographic on sheep facts over at https://betteranimalwelfare.org.uk

17/02/2021

🐑 Did you know this about sheep? They're clever creatures, incredibly social animals and have a knack for remembering faces!

🧐Take a look at our Sheep Infographic... https://betteranimalwelfare.org.uk/infographic/sheep-facts-infographic/

An infographic showing some surprising and interesting facts about sheep! Did you know sheep were this intelligent?

17/02/2021

We've set up Better Animal Welfare to showcase how improving animal welfare standards across the board in the UK makes sense for everyone, including farmers, producers and animals.

We will share content about improving animal welfare standards, showcase farms and organisations who are using best practice and leading the industry and campaign for further improvements to animal welfare.