Short updates from the marketplace: breeders and studs newly listed, the people and organisations we are working with — with links straight to their own sites — and animal welfare news from across the UK, added every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
A digital version of the paperwork needed to move competition horses between the UK and EU began rolling out in June 2026, with the equestrian sector hoping it will cut the border delays that have raised welfare concerns since Brexit.
A free seven-part video series brings vets and welfare scientists together to explain the decisions that shape a horse's life, from breeding through to old age.
Four major UK animal welfare organisations have joined forces to launch a research body dedicated to understanding why people harm animals and how prevention efforts can be better targeted.
A University of Exeter and Naturewatch Foundation study finds patchy local authority enforcement of the legal rule barring harmful breeding decisions, and calls for clearer guidance for inspectors.
The RSPCA's fifth annual Animal Kindness Index finds 94% of the UK public recognise dogs as sentient and animal welfare remains a top public concern, but three in four owners say pet care has become more expensive.
Sport England funding, channelled through British Equestrian, will let the British Horse Society keep recording bridleways and byways missing from the legal rights of way record, and train more volunteers to do it.
The Weigh to Win awards, now running at 60 UK shows, are shifting how the showing world thinks about healthy body condition — but organisers say judges still need to reward it more consistently.
The Royal Kennel Club and the Roslin Institute are collecting DNA from Sussex spaniels to build an evidence-based plan for managing the vulnerable breed's genetic health.
The Scottish Government has published updated Welfare of Equids Guidance, developed with vets and equine charities, setting out what horse owners and keepers are expected to provide.
From 1 November 2026, keepers of XL Bullies and other dogs exempted under the Dangerous Dogs Act must not leave a child under 12 alone with the dog at home without adult supervision — a new condition of their exemption certificate.
The charity Retraining of Racehorses has become an associate member of British Equestrian, formalising its role in shaping welfare, education and participation policy for former racehorses across the wider equestrian sector.
A UK study of nearly 3,000 Miniature Schnauzers found owners reporting pancreatitis far more often than earlier clinic-based research suggested, strengthening the case for closer monitoring of the breed.
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has extended its Cost of Cute campaign with a celebrity-backed slogan clothing collection, aiming to highlight the health consequences of breeding pets for exaggerated looks.
Ethical dog care directory Yappily has launched Yappily Pulse, an independent research programme surveying dog guardians and industry professionals on welfare, standards, regulation and access to care.
The Royal Kennel Club lists 39 native breeds as vulnerable on the basis of fewer than 300 puppies registered a year. The Otterhound is among the rarest, with only three litters registered in 2026 to date.
Anyone in the UK can describe themselves as a dog trainer or behaviourist, regardless of qualifications. Welfare organisations are pressing for clearer standards and better signposting for owners seeking help.
The UK's largest veterinary group has become World Horse Welfare's official Centenary Vet Partner for 2026–2028, backing the charity's rehoming programme with pre-travel health assessments, discounted preventative care and equine dental training.
British Equestrian has published a two-year equine welfare roadmap covering reciprocal disciplinary sanctions across member bodies, a welfare officer network, mandatory reporting of event fatalities and improved traceability of competition horses.
New research involving Hartpury University and Swedish and Dutch partners found horse owners hold a strong, largely evidence-aligned understanding of welfare — but struggle to put it into daily practice, particularly around turnout and companionship.
The Government has proposed restricting the loudest fireworks to professional displays and lowering the consumer noise limit. The public consultation is open until 7 October, and animal welfare charities are encouraging owners to share their experiences.
A House of Lords committee has recommended ending the general sale of off-the-shelf pet parasite treatments, citing environmental pollution and a lack of tailored advice for owners.
A new Dogs Trust campaign, If in Doubt, Keep Your Dog Out, uses short animations to explain the hazards hidden in calm-looking water, after research found that most owners feel confident judging water safety but few recognise that no open water is automatically safe.
With little rain and poor grass growth across much of the UK, equine nutritionist Dr Katie Williams has set out practical advice on stretching hay supplies, using straw as a low-calorie fibre source, and covering the vitamin and mineral gaps left by parched pasture.
Pets Magazine's August cover feature profiles the Innate Health Assessment, a free ten-point visual checklist that lets breeders, licensing officers and buyers judge whether a dog's body shape supports a healthy life.
The owners of a young thoroughbred lost to a horsebox floor failure are urging others to have lorry and trailer floors professionally inspected, warning that rot and corrosion can stay hidden beneath rubber matting.
The RSPCA has published 'The Shape of Suffering', reporting a 3,800 per cent rise in French bulldogs coming into its care over ten years and urging breeders and buyers to move away from selecting for extreme conformation.
A Battersea survey of local authorities found almost a third of stray dogs were not microchipped, and 87 per cent could not be reunited with owners on microchip data alone because details were missing, outdated or unavailable.
The Royal Kennel Club will publish Interim Breed Standards for the Miniature American Shepherd, Yakutian Laika and Small Munsterlander on 1 August 2026, making all three eligible for Imported Breed Register classes.
The Government has clarified that this year's strengthened Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act does not extend to ridden or driven horses, leaving campaigners pushing for the Dangerous Dogs Act to be amended instead.
The RSPCA had around 1,646 dogs in its care across England and Wales this month — its highest number on record — with centres urging people to consider adoption to free up space.
Experts from ten UK equine charities met at a National Equine Welfare Council workshop to share best practice on helping horses and donkeys in need, as rising costs squeeze both owners and charity capacity.
University of Stirling research shows millions of Britons believe dogs have stronger legal protections than actually exist, with dog owners no more accurate than non-owners.
Two of the most respected names in their fields now publish on the GenoVaq Welfare Hub under their own names — Kate Clapperton of Rippletrix Border Collies, and world-renowned reinforcement-based trainer Kamal Fernandez, whose training videos have just gone live on the site.
An amendment to the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act has strengthened the law on dogs attacking or chasing farm animals — giving police greater powers to investigate and tougher penalties for owners who let it happen.
Under the Renters' Rights Act, private tenants in England now have a legal right to request to keep a pet — and landlords can no longer unreasonably refuse. A quietly significant change for responsible ownership.
Kate Clapperton's Rippletrix Border Collies were the first breeder to join GenoVaq, and the partnership has grown into a full breeder profile, a puppy-foundation video library and a run of welfare writing under Kate's byline.