We had a fantastic day at the Companion Animal Sector Council’s (CASC) Forum, an annual gathering where member organisations collaborate on ways to enhance the welfare of pets. Unlike many other groups, CASC focuses on companion animals beyond dogs, cats, and horses, advocating for species like fish, reptiles, birds, and small mammals—including rabbits, rats, and other pets.

A Collective Voice for Change

CASC plays a vital role in shaping policies by acting as a unified voice to the Government on issues affecting these animals. Its diverse membership includes:

  • Keeper groups such as the Parrot Society and Fancy Rat Society
  • Veterinary organisations, such as the Fish Veterinary Society, British Veterinary Zoological Society and the British small animal veterinary association
  • Pet trade associations like OATA and UK Pet Food
  • Animal charities, such as the Pet Charity and Pets at Home Foundation

Together, these groups form working committees to reach a consensus on key issues, including:
✅ Pet shop licensing
✅ Temporary sales & exhibition events
✅ Strategies to enhance animal welfare

Key takeaways from the Forum

This year’s Forum featured insightful talks from the Chair of the Animal Sentience Committee and the Animal Health and Welfare Board England. We heard a crucial takeaway from AHWBE Director Peter Lawrie about the power of collective organisations such as CASC which is that the Government prefers to engage with unified groups rather than individual voices—highlighting the importance of trade associations like OATA in ensuring the pet industry’s concerns are heard. Additionally, Defra representatives attended the discussions, providing a valuable opportunity for networking and direct engagement with policymakers.

CASC Parliamentary sponsor Lord Trees noted: “The recent working group to develop a Health and Welfare Strategy for companion animals that reflects the priorities of its members is noteworthy. Addressing regulatory considerations, keeper education, self-regulation and areas of concern it provides a roadmap for achieving welfare improvements. Seeing the sector engage in such forward-planning, achieved through consensus and compromise, is extremely positive. So much can be achieved when people and organisations work together, and I look forward to see the CASC’s contributions continuing over the years.”

Deep Dives into Key Challenges

The afternoon sessions allowed attendees to break into smaller groups for in-depth discussions on pressing industry challenges, including:

  • Owner education – How can we improve knowledge and responsibility among pet owners? Are Positive lists the right approach for regulating pet ownership?
  • Unregulated pet sales – Addressing concerns about the welfare of animals sold outside of licensed establishments.
  • Animal activity licensing – Exploring ways to improve regulatory frameworks.
  • Ethical breeding – Discussing the risks associated with breeding pets with deleterious genes. Check out the video below where our Scientific and Technical Advisor Dr Matthew Bond and Scientific Support Officer Emily Maunder dive deeper into the this working group.

Why this matters to us

As active CASC members and event sponsors, we deeply value this forum as a platform to amplify the conversation around pet fish welfare. By working together, we can drive meaningful change and ensure that all companion animals receive the care and protection they deserve.

Check out more about the Companion Animal Sector Council here on its website.