The British Veterinary Zoological Society (BVZS) has issued new guidelines for veterinary surgeons working in the field of British native wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.

The guidelines are designed to support veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and wildlife rehabilitators, in order to promote and achieve the best possible care and welfare for indigenous British wild animals in accordance with UK law.

The Society says that guidelines are needed because:

• All veterinary surgeons in practice are at some point likely to be presented with injured or orphaned British wildlife.
• Full care to the point of successful release of suitable cases back to the wild requires good collaborative working relationships between veterinary professionals and wildlife rehabilitators.
• Wildlife casualties are covered by the Veterinary Surgeons Act and Veterinary Medicines Regulations. Therefore veterinary surgeons and nurses have legal as well as ethical responsibilities for the care of these animals.
• Wildlife carers and rehabilitators also have responsibilities, and may benefit from clarification of these at the interface between veterinary medicine and general animal care.
• Failure to fulfil these responsibilities may lead to action by the RCVS, as well as prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act, 2006 or other wildlife legislation.

Mark Stidworthy, BVZS President (pictured above right), said: "The rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife by veterinary surgeons and wildlife professionals is highly valued by the British public, making a positive contribution to local communities, the health and welfare of individual animals and to conservation. We hope these guidelines will inform best practice in this area and ensure its continued success."

Theresa Amory, Chair of the British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (BWRC) said: "BWRC aims to support and promote the professional integrity of wildlife rehabilitators. While we recognise that meeting all of these guidelines may be difficult (particularly for smaller scale rehabilitators) we hope that they will enable rehabilitators to work alongside veterinary partners with increased awareness and confidence in their own working policies and procedures."

Michael Stanford, BVZS Senior Vice President, Veterinary Defence Society Claims Consultant said: "The BVZS Wildlife Guidelines should ensure all stakeholders involved with wildlife rehabilitation are acting in the best interests of animal welfare, with the added reassurance that they are acting in accordance with UK law."

Liz Mullineaux, veterinary surgeon and one of the authors of the guidelines said: "Working with British wildlife has always been challenging, for both vets and rehabilitators, in terms of what is ethical, legal and of an adequate clinical standard. These guidelines clarify many of those things, describing best practice and achievable standards for this area of work."

The guidelines can be downloaded from: http://www.bvzs.org/images/uploads/BVZS_Good_Practice_Guidelines_for_Wildlife_Centres_011016_.pdf 

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