Rural Jersey Autumn 2021

Page 58

PAW & HOOF PRINT

All veterinary problems

great and small

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Brexit and Covid... they have not only affected humans, but our dogs and other animals, as well the Island’s export trade. Kieranne Grimshaw spoke to the recently appointed Chief Veterinary Officer, Alistair Breed

T

he British are reputed to be a nation of dog lovers and Jersey is no exception. But Brexit has had an impact on our dogs’ lives just as it has affected our own. The same might be said about Covid. The combination of the two has also been a major factor in the workload of the newly appointed States Vet, Alistair Breed.

‘As has happened in the UK, there’s been a significant increase in pet ownership, especially dogs,’ Alistair said. ‘Enquiries for importing dogs into Jersey have risen and the process has become more complicated since Brexit.’ With Covid restrictions lifting, transport providers to and from France have started taking Islanders on their holidays once again. Before Brexit, dog owners could take their dogs to the European Union following some relatively simple procedures. But times have changed.

Enquiries for importing dogs into Jersey have risen and the process has become more complicated since Brexit Alistair explained: ‘The main change in requirements is that Jersey pet passports, which used to allow dogs to go back and forwards, are no longer valid. Now you need to have an Animal Health Certificate, issued by your practice vet, obtained within ten days of your trip abroad. That document must also be in the language of the country of entry into the EU.

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‘This gives your dog freedom of movement within the EU for another four months, although it’s only valid for one journey. If you’re going outside of the member state of entry into the EU, however, you’ll need to get the document stamped by Customs at point of entry. People should check the States website, www.gov.je, for up-to-date information.’ Despite Covid making tasks more challenging, Alistair considers Brexit to be the cause of a significant amount of increased work. ‘Transitions are still taking place with European rules changing and they aren’t expected to be finalised until March next year.’ Following the Covid pandemic, veterinary practices have had to modify their ways of working in the best interests of colleagues and their customers. As with many customer-facing jobs, Alistair and his veterinary team have faced recent difficulties in actually going out to meet clients: ‘For my colleagues in practice, it’s been even harder, especially with staff shortages following lockdowns. They’ve also had to go outside to the car park to collect the dogs and everything has taken longer, with wearing PPE and being busier with increased pet ownership.’


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The streets of London

4min
pages 82-84

Les Herbes de St Pierre

4min
pages 72-73

Art inspired by nature

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pages 66-67

Meet the Constable

4min
pages 64-65

Finni’s Ark

2min
page 63

A-hunting we will go

6min
pages 60-62

All veterinary problems, great and small

4min
pages 58-59

A big ‘thank-you’

5min
pages 56-57

Meet the farmer

6min
pages 50-55

If you go down to the woods today…

4min
pages 46-47

I sty with my little eye

4min
pages 40-42

The Jersey rock star

4min
pages 44-45

Life lessons for sustainability

3min
pages 48-49

Rewilding the wildness

3min
page 43

An architect’s practice

4min
pages 36-39

When the landfill has to stop

5min
pages 34-35

Root and branch

3min
pages 24-25

Buyer beware

4min
pages 28-29

Never buy seeds again

4min
pages 18-19

Defining the modern smart house

4min
pages 26-27

Neither town nor

3min
pages 22-23

Over the wall

3min
page 7

Maintaining a balance

6min
pages 20-21

Secret gardens

6min
pages 13-17
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