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We were recently contacted about helping with an article on the IWS for a magazine.  To be sure of some facts regarding IWS field trial champions, a call was made to Eddie Lennon in Ireland concerning his two FT Champions that were made up in the 1980s. The Irish have a points system which requires certain points from both bench and field to become a FT Champion. The conversation prompted Eddie to think that another of his IWS had perhaps gained enough points to be made up to a FT Champion.

We are delighted to announce that earlier this week after being contacted by Eddie, the Irish Kennel Club have confirmed that his bitch Ch  Mearog of Lisnabrogue is now Ch & FT Ch Mearog of Lisnabrogue, some 35 years after she should have been made up.

Congratulations to Eddie, now 3 Irish Field trial champions.

Ch & Ft Ch Mearog of Lisnabrogue is litter sister to FT Ch Cruiscin of Lisnabrogue and dam to Lisnabrogue Derg, who starred as Maria in the 1980s tv series "The Irish RM" starring Peter Bowles.

UPDATE ON CANINE HEALTH SCHEMES AS ENGLAND ENTERS SECOND NATIONAL LOCKDOWN

In light of the national four-week lockdown that began in England yesterday (5 November), the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and The Kennel Club (KC) have announced the following changes to the Canine Health Schemes (CHS) in order to follow the new guidelines and restrictions, and also continue to process submissions. 

As of Thursday 5 November the CHS office will be closed and the team will be working remotely.

England: As part of BVA’s guidance to veterinary practices, how practices are able to operate and which services they will be able to offer in terms of health testing will be dependent on individual practice factors such as staffing levels, building layout, as well as the vets’ professional and clinical judgement, and we would urge all owners to respect their individual vet’s decisions in this matter.

Wales: During the firebreak lockdown (23 October - 8 November) veterinary practices must only undertake essential and urgent services and practices may need to delay x-rays and eye screenings. At the end of the firebreak lockdown, practices in Wales will be able to deliver veterinary services in line with Covid-safe requirements. However, during the England national lockdown, CHS is only able to process online submissions to the Hip and Elbow Schemes (see below).

Scotland and Northern Ireland: Veterinary practices are able to deliver veterinary services in line with Covid-safe requirements so x-rays and eye screening can go ahead. However, during the England national lockdown, CHS is only able to process online submissions to the Hip and Elbow Schemes.

In England, under the new guidance for the national lockdown, group screening cannot take place. In Scotland, NI, and Wales (after the firebreak lockdown) group screenings can go ahead but Panellists must adhere to additional requirements to work in a Covid-safe manner.
Some CHS Eye Panellists may be able to offer eye screenings as long as government guidance on working safely, practice polices, and any local restrictions are adhered to.

We are asking all animal owners and breeders to respect their vets’ clinical and professional judgement and be patient during this time. The list of eye panellists offering testing can be found at: www.bva.co.uk/canine-health-schemes/eye-scheme/find-an-eye-panellist/ 

• Hip      and elbow submissions can be made by a veterinary surgeon via the CHS online      portal
• The      CHS team can process and score online submissions, however, online scoring      is slower than in-person scoring, and this means there will be reduced      capacity for scoring during the lockdown
• Unfortunately,      this will further impact turnaround times and both BVA and The Kennel Club      ask for your patience

• CHS      cannot score postal submissions during the national lockdown in England
• CHS      can process postal submissions, ready for them to be allocated to      an in-person scoring session after the national lockdown. Unfortunately,      this will impact turnaround times, which CHS are unable to estimate until      the office reopens
• CHS      is asking veterinary practices to assist by not sending postal submissions      during lockdown as there is already a significant backlog of submissions      that are unable to be scored until the offices reopen. Consequently vets      are advised to hold on to submissions if at all possible 

Anyone presenting dogs for hip or elbow x-Ray for submission to the Canine Health Schemes at this current time is advised to confirm that their vet is able to submit these via the online portal.

Turnaround times

Due to the uncertainty caused by the national lockdown in England, the CHS team are currently not able to provide accurate turnaround times. The team is working hard to process and score online submissions in order of date received and is unable to fast-track any submissions.

BVA and the KC is asking all owners and breeders to please respect the CHS team and their vets’ clinical and professional judgement and to be patient during this time.

CHS is unable to take payment until the submission is received, so please wait for at least two weeks before calling to make payment.

To make a payment by card for postal submissions, please call the office on 020 7908 6380 (please note that this line is for payments only).

When calling please provide the following information: Date of radiography; Kennel Club/microchip number; name and address of the veterinary practice.

For all non-payment related enquiries, please email chs@bva.co.uk and if possible include the dog’s Kennel Club or microchip number, date of radiography, and the name and address of your vet practice. The team will get back to you as soon as possible.

The BVA, Kennel Club and CHS teams thank you for your patience and understanding in these exceptional circumstances.

For the latest guidance and advice on Covid-19, please visit the BVA coronavirus information hub: www.bva.co.uk/coronavirus/. If you have any questions or concerns relating to canine health and welfare, please email health@thekennelclub.org.uk 

ENDS

[xxx.20]

5 November 2020

For journalists who would like further press information, images or interview requests please email press.office@thekennelclub.org.uk

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Notes to Editors

The Kennel Club is the largest organisation in the UK devoted to dog health, welfare and training. Its objective is to ensure that dogs live healthy, happy lives with responsible owners.

BVA and the Kennel Club (KC) work in partnership to provide a number of health screening programmes - the Canine Health Schemes. The Canine Health Schemes enable breeders to screen for a range of inherited diseases so they can make informed decisions as to whether those dogs should be included in breeding programmes. For more information on all of the Canine Health Schemes visit www.bva.co.uk/Canine-Health-Schemes/ 

BVA is the largest membership community for the veterinary profession in the UK. We represent the views of over 18,000 vets and vet students on animal health and welfare, and veterinary policy issues to government, parliamentarians and key influencers in the UK and EU.

Following the government and Kennel Club advice it has been decided that all Test and Training events have been cancelled until the end of June.

Any changes with regards to the coronavirus advice, will be posted in the future.

 https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/press-releases/2020/march/statement-on-kennel-club-events-and-coronavirus-covid-19/ 

Melvyn

Secretary