Legalities of treating wildlife in UK veterinary practice

Fraser, Mary; Girling, Simon

Abstract

Many different species of wildlife will be presented to veterinary practices. In addition to providing care for these patients, veterinary nurses need to be aware of the legal aspects that apply. Legislation relating to wildlife species is particularly relevant to taking animals from the wild, keeping wild animals and birds in care, releasing them back into the wild and notifiable diseases. Following devolution, there are some differences in legislation in different parts of the UK. Specific species, particularly endangered species, have more detailed legislation which also needs to be adhered to. While lay people may have the best of intentions, they need to be aware that all veterinary care needs to follow Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeon's Act 1966, and the best interests of the animals must be central to all care that is given.

Citation

Fraser, M., & Girling, S. (2016). Legalities of treating wildlife in UK veterinary practice. Veterinary Nurse, 7(3), 140-147. https://doi.org/10.12968/vetn.2016.7.3.140

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 9, 1999
• Online Publication Date: May 10, 2016
• Publication Date: Apr 2, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jun 10, 2016
• Print ISSN: 2044-0065
• Publisher: Mark Allen Healthcare
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 7
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 140-147
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/vetn.2016.7.3.140
• Keywords: Wildlife; legislation; release; non-native; notifiable
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/10360
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.napier.ac.uk/10.12968/vetn.2016.7.3.140