Northern Ireland

Footfall suffers despite June reopening

Footfall in June saw a “significant improvement” against the 73.3% decline reported in May, but was still less than half the level of last year, with an annual decline of 56.6%. According to the latest figures from Springboard, footfall fell by 65.1% in high streets and 62.3% in shopping centres,…

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KCCT Emergency Relief Initiative supports rescue centre

The Good Life Dog Rescue has revealed that the Kennel Club Charitable Trust’s (KCCT) emergency fund has supported the business through the crisis, allowing it to continue operations amid the pandemic.  The Yorkshire-based rescue centre has saved over 300 dogs in the last year. The organisation works to rehome dogs,…

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Reopening is ‘no magic bullet’ for retail, says BRC

Reopening is “no magic bullet” for retail, the British Retail Consortium has warned despite UK footfall improving since lockdown restrictions were lifted earlier this month. The BRC’s footfall tracker found that UK footfall decreased 53.4% year-on-year during the second week of reopening in England and NI. This is compared to a decrease of…

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BVA join forces with other healthcare professions to launch petition for business rates relief

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is appealing to the profession to support and widely share a new petition urging the government to grant business rates relief to human and animal healthcare providers affected by Covid-19. The petition, led by the British Dental Association (BDA), calls on the Government to allow…

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Covid-19: 95% of animal rescue centres have lost up to half of their income

The Association of Dogs and Cats Homes survey has revealed that 95% of its members have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, as UK animal rescue centres have lost up to half of their income during the outbreak. The Association of Dogs and Cat Homes (ADCH) announced their members were…

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BVA calls on government to support veterinary practices

The BVA has written to the government asking them to include veterinary practices in their support of businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The plea follows Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiling of a £350bn package of measures, including rates relief and grants to support retail and hospitality businesses affected by the…

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Bira welcomes temporary abolition of business rates in Scotland

The Scottish Government’s move to temporarily abolish business rates in a bid to minimise the impact of coronavirus has been welcomed by the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira). Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop MSP has unveiled a new economic package to the Holyrood Parliament in response to coronavirus, including 12 months…

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MPs support Battersea’s animal cruelty campaign

Over 100 MPs have showed their support for five-year prison sentences for animal cruelty at a reception held by Battersea in Parliament. The event was in support the charity’s campaign to increase the maximum sentence for the most serious animal cruelty offences. MPs were invited to sign Battersea’s pledge board…

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NIVA appoints Susan Cunningham as president

The Northern Ireland Branch of the British Veterinary Association has appointed Susan Cunningham as president of North of Ireland Veterinary Association (NIVA). NIVA represents the interests and collective voice of all sectors within the local veterinary profession which include practice, government, research, industry and academia. Cunningham is currently in small…

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BVA issues advice to owners amid dog vomiting bug outbreak

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has issued advice to pet owners following an increase in the number of dogs being struck by a vomiting bug. Around 474 reports had been recorded via a dedicated University of Liverpool veterinary surveillance database, (SAVSNET) in the week since it went live on 30…

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