Companion Animal Sector Council

08/04/2025

Our Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee has announced his intention to retire in September after nine years at the helm.

Dominic joined the trade association in July 2016 from the civil service where he had worked on the CITES team in the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

OATA’s Scientific and Technical Adviser Dr Matthew Bond (pictured right with Dominic) now becomes the Association’s Deputy Chief Executive and will step up to take on the top job from 1st October, having shadowed Dominic for the past year.

Dominic said: “It has been a privilege to lead OATA over these past years and I hope I have helped to further strengthen the industry and the trade organisation so that it continues to be in a solid place for the future. I am very pleased to hand the reins over to Matt. We have worked closely over the past years and Matt has ably represented OATA on a range of subjects, including UK Border issues and at international meetings. I know he will bring his scientific expertise and personal love of fishkeeping to the trade association and he’ll be a positive driving force in guiding our sector to a productive and profitable future.”

Matthew Bond joined OATA in June 2020. He was the main author of the organisation’s 2021 Fishing For Facts: an introduction to the UK ornamental fish trade report and has taken the lead to represent both OATA and the European Pet Organisation at a number of international meetings over the past couple of years, most notably around the plans by CITES to examine the trade in marine ornamental fishes.

Matthew, a longtime fishkeeper who has also worked on the aquatics shop floor, said: “I’m excited to step into this role and build upon the strong foundation laid by Dominic, and Keith Davenport before him. Having worked closely with Dominic over the past four to five years, I greatly appreciate the vital work OATA does to champion and safeguard our industry. I am committed to continuing this mission, supporting our members in the UK and those involved in the trade internationally, to ensure a thriving future for the trade in pet fish.”

OATA Chair Laura Carlin, of EcoMarines, said: “The Board wishes Dominic well in his retirement and we thank him for his dedicated, passionate work over the past decade. Dominic has been intrinsic in guiding OATA through a particularly turbulent time, whilst also facilitating new connections in government which will serve our future. He has also been instrumental in including an otherwise under-represented demographic and promoting inclusivity allowing for a richer conversation. It has been a real pleasure and privilege to work alongside Dominic during my time as Chair. I am confident he leaves us in great hands with Matt, leaving a legacy of clear strategic direction which will help us continue to represent our members and the industry in what continues to be a challenging time."

07/04/2025

What extinct species would you like to see brought back to life?

27/03/2025

🦜Do you live in the UK or Ireland and care for a parrot? Then researchers from the University of Bristol want to hear from you! They're conducting an anonymous survey to better understand parrot behaviour and welfare.

The survey is open to anyone 18 years and older, based in the UK or Ireland and caring for any species of parrot; it should only take 15 minutes to complete and closes on 25th April 2025.

Your insights could help improve the care and well-being of parrots across the UK and Ireland - thank you.

Take the survey👉 https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/svs/parrot-housing-and-behaviour-survey

If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to be in touch with [email protected]

24/03/2025

14/03/2025

Yesterday was the Big Tent Meeting. A wonderful chance for CASC members, member organisations, and other related groups to come together, sharing ideas, networking, and having lively discussions about topics close to our hearts. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces, and put some faces to names.
Not to worry if you were unable to attend, I took notes, and I will be asking some of the questions that were discussed on the day over the next few weeks, and exploring more about what CASC is, what we do, and what our members are looking to achieve.
The day would not have been complete without our wonderful speakers, Mr Michael Seals CBE, Mr Peter Laurie, and our own secretariat and CASC Chair Tariq Abou-Zahr, as well as the discussion moderators.
Professor Lord Sandy Trees, the driving force behind the newly invigorated CASC. Was kind enough to attend to reaffirm his support.
The venue staff at St Bride Foundation-Bridewell Hall made the entire day run smoothly and made everyone feel so welcome.

Beyond this a huge thanks has to go out to the CASC committee members that made the day possible especially Dave Perry who I think may feel like he’s herding cats, or maybe catfish, chameleons, rabbits, and parrots, as he gathers us all together.

Finally, a huge thanks to everyone who attended the event. It was wonderful to see familiar faces, and put names to some faces that I’d yet to meet.

09/10/2024

The official deadline has passed now for compulsory bird registration, however if you are a bird keeper and have not registered, we would strongly recommend that you still do! All poultry and captive birds in Great Britain that have access to open air must be registered with APHA.

Article 7 ( 8 ) of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the definition of “access to open air”. “Access to open air” means
1. permanent or temporary housing of poultry or other captive birds in a fully or partially meshed, netted or caged outdoor structure, whether fixed or mobile, which is not fully enclosed within a building; or
2. temporary removal of poultry or other captive birds from their housing in order to be flown freely outdoors.

CASC is aware that there is fear regarding what registration may mean and any potential consequences, especially in regards to culling of birds. The following government blog is very useful: New mandatory bird registration: what do keepers need to know – Government Vets (blog.gov.uk)

Taken from that blog:

"Birds will only ever be culled if avian influenza is confirmed in your birds following laboratory testing of samples, or a veterinary risk assessment indicates a strong likelihood that a premises keeping birds has significant links to a confirmed infected premises. These links could be via movements of birds, poultry products, people, equipment, or vehicles between the two premises."

CASC recommends that bird keepers are especially cautious about acquiring new birds, or visiting other collections of birds during avian influenza season, which is usually between October and March. Keep an eye out for outbreaks and control zones in your area, by monitoring the relevant government websites:

For England: Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
For Wales: Avian influenza (bird flu) | GOV.WALES
For Scotland: Avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
For Northern Ireland: Avian Influenza (AI) | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk)

19/09/2024

We were delighted to be invited to attend the Guinea Pig Welfare Forum today in Birmingham. It was great to hear from so many expert speakers and hear some insightful discussions about how the welfare of these popular pets could be improved.

27/06/2024

So there are a lot of very experienced people behind the scenes here at CASC, so instead of random facts and stuff I spotted, let's make use of all that knowledge. So this is your chance to ask questions, be it about small mammals, reptiles, fish, birds, and more.
It can be health or care related, information about particular species, or what goes on at each of the member organisations. Ask your questions on this post, or drop me a message. Don't worry we won't be using your name if you don't want us to.

05/06/2024

An interesing discussion on the positives and negatives of positive lists, and in a way eotic animal keeping as a whole. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/vetr.4353?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2RwEHZHykI1uQ67LHVbrGN3JfKo71jmIhHa1DajfUgfR9m0UQ0Xu4ADsM_aem_AbZQsQqCat9WZ_GxWKlXnT4040DuOSVsj3-jHlilpGNPXIs_xUqdUpK4-okt5HKXMS8U1C7bqBaqA1DUwVLnUZUf

17/05/2024

Cryptosporidium outbreak in Devon, what to do for your fish tank.

Cryptosporidium has been identified in water being supplied to house and business in Brixham South Devon. If you are one of those being warned to boil the water please be aware that the parasite can impact your fish tank, and if it gets into your tank the fish may become ill themselves, or may just host the parasite, meaning that you can become reinfected in the future.

Firstly don’t do any water changes using tap water, as well as the parasite being a threat, there may be other things in the water supply now, from cleaning pipes, things being disturbed by the work being done on the pipes, and anything put in to treat the water itself. If it is true that the cause in animal faces getting into the water pipes, then it may not just be the one parasite or pathogen in the water supply, and that may lead to other things needing to be treated.

Given that Devon is mostly soft water, old tank syndrome is a real risk. I would suggest buying some buffers and keeping your KH up at least 3 or 4, unless you have very soft water fish. You want to raise the KH, many products that raise the pH do not raise the carbonates (the KH) so won’t be suitable. I will put a link to some buffers in the comments.

Two weeks should be fine if you have a regular water change schedule, however, if you’ve been doing minimal changes, such as only 20% a week, or every other week you may need to do a water change. Cryptosporidium is resistant to chlorine, although long contact with some treatments can reduce the numbers, but can be filtered out using a 1-micron filter. Again I will put a link to some more information about these. I would think about purchasing a HMA unit and an addition 1-micron filter cartridge.

You may be able to get hold of some RO water via your LFS, especially if they have a marine section as they may sell premixed water for marine keepers, drop them a message and ask do they sell premixed fresh water, or just RO, although you will need to add buffers yourself. If you're really stuck there is a spotless water station in Exeter.

If you have a friend outside of the contaminated area then ask if you can fill some containers from their tap water supply.

Over all don’t worry too much about your tank. Even if you get old tank syndrome then there are ways to get things back, and no it’s not going to be great for the fish, especially if this is an ongoing thing. But missing a few water changes won’t be the end of the world. Reduce the feeding, and if you can get some live plants in there, even if it’s just duckweed.

If you think you’ve done a water change with contaminated water, again don’t worry, just be careful about putting your hands in the tank. Once you have normal water service again build up to 80% water changes twice a week and do that for a decent period of time. It’s unlikely that a farm animal parasite will find fish a suitable host, but it’s worth being careful.

If you own, or work at a fish shop in the area let us know if you can provide RO water, or if you are close but outside the infected water supply, can you provide safe water for fish keepers?

17/05/2024

https://www.facebook.com/chesterzoo1/posts/pfbid0a82TGgtX8Na1Bq7Xn82dig9SgbsQ26kaQ5S595DLu87oGGxjZu8VUrsC5ESpgzHl

14/05/2024

The first ever is happening TOMORROW (15 May) 🌏

The fully virtual gathering of species experts and conservation practitioners will encourage a whopping 100,000 commitments towards species conservation.

Register 👉 https://buff.ly/3w59vXj