Animal health is part of Trading Standards and is responsible for:

• enforcing laws regarding the health and welfare of non-domestic animals
• the control of dogs
• licensing and inspecting pet shops, dog breeding and riding establishments, boarding kennels, catteries and premises with dangerous wild animals

Bluetongue disease

Bluetongue disease is an insect born viral disease which affects all ruminants. Animals such as pigs, horses (and humans) are unaffected. Unlike Foot and Mouth Disease, the Bluetongue virus is not directly transmitted between animals, but is spread by a small number of species of biting midges. You can obtain further information about Bluetongue disease on the DEFRA website.

City of York will be in the protection zone with effect from 00.01 on Monday 14th July 2008.  Premises within the protection zones are subject to movement restrictions which are detailed on the DEFRA website and can be accessed by using the link below. Movement restrictions do not apply to pigs and poultry but do apply to cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminating animals. Details of the new Declaration of a Protection and Surveillance Zones are attached to the right of this page together with a map showing the Prtoection and Surveillance Zone.

Bluetongue: Movement guidance and licences

Avian Influenza (Bird flu)

If you find one or more dead swans/wild fowl (ducks and geese), more than three dead birds of the same species or more than five dead birds of different species in the same location, they should call the Department of the Environment Farming & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) helpline on 08459 335577 (6.00am-10.00pm daily).