NEWS

Wednesday 07 October 2026 Northern Ireland is moving towards a major change in how puppies and kittens can be sold, with new rules designed to make it harder for puppy farms and irresponsible breeders to hide behind third-party dealers. Under proposals approved for Northern Ireland’s own version of Lucy’s Law, people buying a puppy or kitten will generally have to deal directly with the breeder and see the young animal with its mother at the place where it was bred. For puppi

Young whippet, Little Gem Tuesday 29 September 2026 A young whippet who gave birth to three puppies on the night she was rescued near Clady is now waiting for a family of her own at Dogs Trust Ballymena. Two-year-old Little Gem was found running along a road four months ago, heavily pregnant. Her puppies — Chickpea, Crouton and Feta — have since been adopted, but their mum is still searching for a home. Staff hope to find adult adopters who can offer her an active life, time

Monday 28 September 2026 Almost half of people surveyed as part of new Northern Ireland research did not know there is no legal requirement for someone shoeing horses here to be registered as a farrier. The Queen’s University Belfast study has highlighted potential risks to horse welfare from inconsistent standards, shortages of farriers and difficulties for owners trying to establish whether someone is properly qualified. More than two-thirds of respondents said they did not

Nala pictured in her new home after benefiting from Dogs Trust new ‘Homestay’ initiative Wednesday 23 September 2026 Dogs Trust Ballymena is highlighting a new rehoming option designed to help owners who can no longer keep their dog — while allowing their pet to remain at home until a new family is found. New option aims to avoid kennel stays The charity’s Homestay service allows eligible dogs to move directly from their existing home to a new one, rather than first entering

Wednesday 16 September 2026 Newly released government figures reveal 456 cattle were involved in 56 recorded operations by DAERA’s Humane Slaughter Team — putting the controversial destruction of 51 cattle near Fivemiletown into stark new context. The figures show the June operation, now at the centre of an independent external review, was one of the largest deployments contained in the records released by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. They als

Inset: DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart Questions over the sourcing and labelling of chicken served in Northern Ireland schools remain despite fresh assurances from the Education Authority that halal-certified poultry is not being provided as a blanket policy, an MP has said. Upper Bann DUP MP Carla Lockhart is calling for greater transparency for parents and increased use of locally produced food in publicly funded catering, as she prepares to meet Education Authority (EA) o

Inset: TUV councillor Jonathan McAuley TUV councillor Jonathan McAuley has expressed disappointment over what he says is a lack of progress by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council on exploring alternatives to traditional fireworks at its Halloween events. The councillor raised the issue again during September’s Environmental Services Committee meeting, almost a year after suggesting that options including silent fireworks and drone shows should be considered. Concerns ove

Northern Ireland farmers are being urged to watch their livestock closely for signs of bluetongue after the disease was confirmed in an animal in County Wexford. The case, involving an unvaccinated heifer, is the first detected in the Republic of Ireland during the 2026/27 bluetongue season. No cases have been confirmed in Northern Ireland this season, but the Ulster Farmers’ Union has warned that the infection’s arrival south of the border underlines the continuing threat to

The permanent closure of Drumbo Park Greyhound Stadium in County Down has prompted renewed calls for greyhound racing to be phased out across Northern Ireland and the wider UK. Dogs Trust has welcomed the closure, describing it as potentially the “beginning of the end” for a sport it says exposes greyhounds to an unacceptable risk of injury and death. The closure leaves Brandywell Stadium in Derry/Londonderry as Northern Ireland’s only remaining greyhound racing track. Concer

James Orr discusses genotyping with Senior CAFRE Beef and Sheep Adviser Rachel Megarrell. A Co Antrim father and son are using genetic testing to take some of the guesswork out of breeding decisions on their family farm — uncovering differences within their cattle that cannot necessarily be spotted simply by looking at them. James Orr farms alongside his father William near Ballintoy, where the family runs a suckler herd of around 100 cows, mainly Limousin-Simmental crosses a

Albert and William Wallace discuss genotyping with CAFRE Dairy Adviser, Luke Murray. A Tobermore farming family whose dairy herd ranks among Northern Ireland’s highest-performing producers is highlighting how genetic testing can help farmers make more informed breeding decisions, ahead of a major government-backed genotyping scheme opening on Tuesday. Albert Wallace and his son William, who farm just outside Tobermore, have been using genotyping for six years to identify the

An Antrim couple have been handed suspended prison sentences and banned from keeping animals for five years after a severely malnourished dog was found living in filthy conditions without access to water. Jason Gallagher and Aleshia McLaverty, both of Islandbawn Drive, Antrim, were sentenced at Antrim Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 26 August after pleading guilty to separate offences relating to the welfare of a terrier-cross dog. Gallagher pleaded guilty to failing to ensur

Dog owners across Antrim and Newtownabbey are being urged to check the rules before exercising their pets in council-managed parks and open spaces, as new colour-coded signage is installed across the borough. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is carrying out the work in phases, with priority locations being targeted first. The signs are designed to make it clearer where dogs can be exercised freely, where they must be kept on a lead and where they are prohibited — with

Police have said all calls received before two dogs were found dead at a Lurgan property were “thoroughly followed up”, as agencies came together to examine what happened and address questions over whether earlier intervention was possible. The PSNI made the statement following a multi-agency meeting in Lurgan on Monday morning, 24 August, attended by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Arbour Housing and local political representatives. It follows significa

The new Paws & Pals collection from M&S M&S has expanded its food aisles to four-legged family members with the launch of a new own-brand range of food, meal toppers and treats for adult dogs and cats. The new Paws & Pals collection is available in M&S Foodhalls now, with prices ranging from £3 for treats to £14 for bags of dry food. The launch brings 13 new products to shelves alongside 10 existing favourites being rebranded under Paws & Pals, as the retailer targets growing

DUP Agriculture Spokesperson Carla Lockhart MP Serious whistleblowing allegations involving animal welfare, biosecurity and environmental practices at Northern Ireland’s Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) should be subjected to a genuinely independent examination, a DUP MP has said. Upper Bann MP and DUP Agriculture spokesperson Carla Lockhart has questioned whether investigations into concerns at AFBI’s Hillsborough site can command public confidence when the organis

Northern Ireland has no identified link to a rare case of classical BSE — commonly known as mad cow disease — confirmed on a farm in Scotland, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has said. The case was discovered on a farm in Dumfries and Galloway and identified through routine BSE surveillance. Movement restrictions have now been put in place while investigations continue to establish the origin of the case. Importantly, the affected animal did not enter the human food chain, a

Northern Ireland livestock farmers are being urged to remain vigilant for signs of bluetongue as cases of the disease rise sharply across Great Britain, with nearly 500 now confirmed and vaccine supplies coming under pressure. The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has warned that an increase in cases in Northern Ireland could have serious consequences for livestock movements, farm businesses and the wider agricultural supply chain. Nearly 1,000 individual animals have been infected

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart Serious questions are being raised over whether opportunities to intervene were missed before two dogs were found dead inside a property in Lurgan. Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has secured an urgent meeting involving police, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and Arbour Housing after saying local residents had raised concerns about the Sloanhill Court property before the animals were discovered. A 47-year-old man has been arrest

Pictured: DUP Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart and Ulster Unionist agriculture spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA, and the farmers protest earlier this week outside Stormont. Friday 14 August 2026 Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has rejected demands for his resignation and launched an extraordinary attack on the Ulster Farmers’ Union, declaring that its days of “dictating government policy are over”. His defiant response came after the UFU passed a vote of no confidence in Mr Muir,