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Sciencegroupreviewof20125www.rspca.org.uksciencegroupcompanionanimalsRSPCAlicensingconditionsInMarch2012theRSPCAlaunchedareviewoftheRSPCALicensingConditionsusedinRSPCAanimalcentres.Thecompanionanimalsdepartmenthasworkedcloselywithcolleaguesintheveterinarydepartmenttocollateandreviewanimalwelfareresearchfortherangeofcompanionanimalsinourcare.Thereviewandeventualdisseminationofthenewconditionswillensurethatthewelfareneedsoftheanimalsinourcarearemettotheextentrequiredbygoodpracticeunderpinnedbythemostrecentscientificevidence.Thisprojectalsoinvolvescollaborationwithcolleaguesinthefieldtoensurethatallconditionssetarepracticalforstaffcaringfortheanimals.Evidence-basedguidanceisalsobeingproducedtoofferfurthersupporttothosethatfollowandenforcethem.ItisanticipatedthatthenewversionoftheRSPCALicensingConditionswillbelaunchedin2013.JoiningforcesInJuly2012theRSPCAenteredintoaground-breakingpartnershipwithPetsatHomethatcouldseemajoradvancesinthewelfareofpets.BothorganisationsexpecttheretobearangeofpotentialanimalwelfarebenefitsincludinglpromotingRSPCA-rescuedanimalsindesperateneedoflovinghomeslpoolingofinformationheldbybothorganisationsaboutthenumberofanimalsrehomedneuteredormicrochippedtorevealkeyanimalwelfaretrendsanddatathatcouldbeusedtoimproveeducationcampaignsandprovisionofserviceslprovidingtherightadviceandproductstopotentialownersandcommunicatingclearmessagesonresponsiblepetownershiptoreducethenumberofpeopletakingonananimalwithoutclearknowledgeofhowtocareforthemldevelopingjointpromotionalworkgivingspecificadvicetopeopleonthedietaryandwelfareneedsofrabbitsandotherpets.TosupporttheRSPCAsworkwithPetsatHometheRSPCAcompanionanimalsdepartmenthasbeendevelopingjointlybrandedpetcareliteraturebasedoncurrentscientificresearchandRSPCAfieldexpertise.Theaimoftheliteratureistoensurecustomersaremakingtherightdecisionwhenintroducinganewpettothefamilyandhavetheinformationtheyneedtokeeptheirpetshappyandhealthy.Theliteraturecoversarangeofspeciesandtopicsincludingchinchillashamstersgerbilstravellingwithyourpetandfleaandwormtreatments.ThecompanionanimalsdepartmentisworkingcloselywithcolleaguesinotherdepartmentsandPetsatHometodeveloparangeofproductkitsforcatsdogsandrabbits.TheseproductshavebeenchosentoencourageresponsiblepetownershipandtohelpownersmeetthewelfareneedsoftheirpetsTheRSPCAalsolauncheditsfirstin-storeadoptioncentreinPetsatHomesflagshipstoreinStockportonthe26thNovember2012.ThisisthefirsttimetheRSPCAhasopenedanadoptioncentreinaretailenvironmentandthecompanionanimalsdepartmentwascloselyinvolvedinthedesignofthecentreanddevelopingguidancetoensurethewelfareneedsoftheanimalswhilsthoused.ItwillprovidetheRSPCAwithauniqueopportunitytofindnewhomesforcruellytreatedandneglectedcatsdogsandrabbits.CustomerscanalsoseekadviceonpetcareandinformationaboutotherRSPCAanimalsavailableforadoptioninthelocalarea.ThisisthefirstofseveralcentresplannedacrossEnglandandWales.