Inside the Cross-Border Pet Trade: Illegal Imports, Cropped Ears, Declawed Cats and the Future of Ethical Breeding

In this Vet Voices on Air episode, Robyn Lowe hosts a powerhouse panel to unpack the brand new Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 – the law many are calling the Puppy Smuggling Act, but which reaches far beyond puppies alone.Featuring:Dr Danny Chambers – Vet & MP, who brought the Bill through ParliamentDr Sean McCormack – Vet, conservationist & presenter (ear cropping and welfare campaigner)Dr Alison Skipper – Vet & Veterinary and Research Advisor, Royal Kennel ClubCat the Vet – Vet, educator, welfare advocate & media commentator

Ever wondered what actually happens when a horse vet swaps night shifts and colic calls for Parliament and policy.In this episode of Vet Voices On Air, Robyn speaks to her friend Danny Chambers – founder of Veterinary Voices UK, equine vet and now MP (since July 2024) – about life on the green benches and what it really means to have “a vet in the room” in Westminster.

Listen to the finale episode of Vet Voices on Air for the full mix of chaos, laughter, penguins, snails, politics, hiking storms, and heartfelt community chat – available where you usually find us.Wishing you a Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays / peaceful festive on-call rotaMay the on-call gods be gentle, the chocolate be out of reach of dogs, and your 2026 be full of more glimmers than grumbles.See you in January for SEASON 3!

In this episode, Paul and Robyn explore how public expectations, rehabilitation centre realities, and veterinary clinical decision-making can sometimes pull in different directions. From questions around treatment thresholds and release suitability, to the emotional weight of euthanasia decisions, we unpack why different groups may see the same situation differently — and why that’s okay (but also requires some understanding and respect, as wildlife facilities and veterinary professionals often face substantial abuse for their decisions around wildlife care) What we cover:Why members of the public often see saving an animal as the only ethical outcomeHow rehabbers balance compassion, resources, legislation and welfareThe veterinarian’s responsibility to consider suffering, prognosis and humane limitsThe importance of understanding biosecurity, facility standards and the wider ecosystemAnd most importantly… how we can communicate with more empathy, transparency and shared understandingThis episode isn’t about who’s “right” — it’s about bridging gaps, improving collaboration and building a clearer shared knowledge of why different decisions are made. When we understand each other better, wildlife welfare always wins.

This week on Vet Voices On Air, Robyn talks with Professor Dan O’Neill (Royal Veterinary College, VetCompass) about a powerful new way of thinking: innate health.Rather than asking “Does my dog have a disease?”, innate health asks:👉 “Can my dog actually live the full life a dog should — breathe easily, run, blink, sleep, wag, communicate and enjoy life without pain or struggle?”Dan explains how extreme conformations — like very flat faces, bulging eyes, deep skin folds, twisted legs or missing tails — can limit those basic abilities, even before disease appears.He also shares data from VetCompass, showing how some breeds with extreme features have shorter average lifespans. And together, we explore why public education alone hasn’t shifted buying habits, how “cute” can cloud our judgement, and how we can move toward healthier, more functional dogs without losing breed identity.What we discuss:✅What “innate health” means and why it changes the conversation✅Evidence on lifespan and welfare from thousands of dogs✅The difference between healthy variety and harmful extremes✅How owners, vets and breeders can all play a role in change✅Why compassion and reflection work better than blameOur goal? To make “healthy the new cute.”

Bonus episode: The revamped Rabbit Friendly Practice Scheme — and how to get featured where owners look firstOn Vet Voices on Air, Robyn chats with John Chitty (Advisor, Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund) about the biggest overhaul of the Rabbit Friendly Practice Scheme since it began — plus how practices can appear in the Trusted Rabbit Friendly Vet Directory that rabbit owners actively use to find care.

Join us for a hard-hitting episode with Dr John Tulloch, Lecturer in Veterinary Public Health and RCVS Specialist, as we unpack a critical but often overlooked topic: workplace injury in the veterinary profession.We’ll cover:How the profession defines a workplace injury and the legal/occupational framework behind it Patterns and risks of injury in equine and farm veterinarians, based on recent field researchCommon hazards and incidents in veterinary teaching hospitals and clinics, from sharps injuries to animal handling accidentsPractical steps clinics and individual veterinarians can take to reduce risk and foster safer working environmentsIf you’ve ever wondered what “occupational health” really means for veterinary workers, or if you're concerned about safety in your workplace, this episode is for you.

Nutrition Case Files with Charley GrayGP vet Charley Gray joins Robyn to share powerful real-life cases where asking “What does your pet eat?” unlocked the diagnosis. From skin disease to seizures, we explore how curiosity, open dialogue, and non-judgmental nutrition discussions can transform outcomes in practice

In veterinary medicine, it's easy to place immense pressure on ourselves to succeed. We often feel we must juggle everything—clinical work, home life, exams, further education, side projects, and more. But this constant balancing act can lead to stress, dissatisfaction, and feelings of inadequacy. Imposter syndrome becomes a quiet companion. But does it have to be this way?In this conversation, Jamie McClement BVSc MSc CertSAS FRSB FRCVS shares his journey from general practice to referral vetting. Initially, Jamie was determined to keep a hand in every area of veterinary work. But over time, he came to realise that trying to do it all wasn’t sustainable—or beneficial. Instead, he discovered that narrowing his focus wasn’t a failure, but a way to deliver better care and make the most of his skills.Reflecting on this transition, Jamie explains:“Because if you try to do everything, especially things that you're not massively good at, it just gets really, quite, quite stressful, and you don't really enjoy it so much.”In typical Jamie fashion, even moments of serious insight come with a touch of humour. He recalls a conversation that unexpectedly shaped his thinking:“One of my uncles actually was speaking about this with me. He just said something so dull—he said that what he does is, he has like a five-year plan. Every five years he sits down with his wife and works out what they want to do, what their goals are. And I thought, that is just the most boring thing I've ever heard.And then I realised—I was drifting. He’d had a really successful career. And actually, it turned out to be one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received. It gives you focus. It makes you stop and ask, ‘What do I actually want to do?’”We also explore how critical interpretation of clinical literature is a skill that many in the profession don’t develop until much later in their careers—something that could be introduced and nurtured much earlier.Another key topic we discuss is the evolution of the veterinary nursing profession. Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) are attaining advanced qualifications and training, yet many report that their workplaces aren't adapting fast enough to fully utilise their skills. This lack of opportunity can lead to deep frustration and career stagnation.They reflect on the missed potential; There’s a real sense of disillusionment among RVNs who’ve undertaken higher education, only to return to roles where nothing has changed. It’s demoralising to invest so much in your development, only to find your scope hasn’t expanded.This conversation is a timely reminder: Progression doesn’t always mean doing more. Sometimes, it means doing less—but doing it better. And importantly, it means creating space for others in the profession to grow, thrive, and feel valued.

Join us this week for a very topical and important subject: discussion of discrimination within the veterinary community and what we can do to minimize this, with Robyn Lowe and co-founder of the British Ethnicity and Diversity Society, Navaratnam Partheeban (Theeb).In this insightful podcast we discuss how change starts with us, how each of us have the power to help build a more just, welcoming and diverse profession and wider community. We talk about how this doesn’t mean knowing all the answers or most appropriate terminology all the time, instead it is about open mindedness, having conversations to understand and empower individuals who experience discriminative behaviour. It’s about supporting an individual in the way they would like it to be supported. Everyone is different and will identify differently, so if you aren’t sure how best to support them, then respectfully, ask them!Theeb shares his daily awareness of potential prejudice or discrimination that may threaten him or his family and how he can’t shake the habit of needing to be a “good immigrant.” We touch on how to handle clients who show prejudice. Firstly, if you see it, how do we call it out and recognise it or what it is. We talk about how different leadership styles can have a hugeimpact on how a staff member feels following being exposed to prejudice remarks or discriminative behaviour. So, give it a listen, we promise it’s a good one!Some useful links for further support and information:·     Join the National Farmers’ Union, the BritishVeterinary Ethnicity and Diversity Society and Culture Roots Collective as wecontinue our mission to create an ethnically diverse, thriving agriculturesector that represents the national population, fosters belonging and harnessesthe power of diverse thought and experience: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/agrifuture-forum-tickets-1468957705039?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile&fbclid=IwdGRjcAMmcLNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHrAhKgEQx5hDkC7EMJnCZQlvsnTIKOUnz9vBewUm-e59DvPXi1LlnpKbcEnH_aem_NjbWSKBWktWxDuT_nCbSng·     The Good Immigrant is a book of 21 essays byBAME writers, described by Sandeep Parmar in The Guardian as "anunflinching dialogue about race and racism in the UK.” ·     British Veterinary Ethinicity and Diversity Society- British Veterinary Ethnicity and Diversity Society | BVEDS https://share.google/SV36sRCgjgwk8jk7E·     Home | BVLGBT+ https://share.google/5gAcV9liNIxQ1DNnF·     British Veterinary Chronic Illness Support https://share.google/ijtIn1HmpJ09Q9j6M