In the UK, cat owners are facing a new mandate that requires them to microchip their pets by June 10, 2024, or face a £500 fine, with three types exempt from this rule. This crackdown, announced by the charity Cats Matter, aims to ensure all cats are easily identifiable and can be returned to their owners if lost. Concurrently, the UK's competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), is launching an investigation into the veterinary market amid concerns that pet owners are being overcharged for medicines and treatments. This investigation comes after findings suggest that large groups now owning nearly 60 per cent of practices, with private equity firms acquiring 1,500 of 5,000 UK practices since 2013, potentially driving up prices. The CMA's review has garnered attention, with a significant number of responses from the public raising concerns about the cost and transparency of veterinary services. Shares of CVSG fell by 21% following the announcement.
The Competition and Markets Authority warned that pet owners may be overpaying for medicines and not being given enough information about treatments ⬇️ https://t.co/DYRyvB4sLZ
Vet prices investigation over concerns pet owners being overcharged Read more 🔗 https://t.co/pPqiMOUges
How expensive are your vets bills? The @CMAgovUK launched a review over concerns that people could be paying too much and received 56,000 responses. @ChurchfieldJE found out more 🔊👇 https://t.co/KJ8GItEoE9
Cat and dog owners in England face new rules at vets in crackdown https://t.co/ylcz5lRAFJ
All cat and dog owners in UK warned they may have been 'overcharged' https://t.co/Fj8wRxVYlD
"UK competition watchdog to launch probe into veterinary market" (FT) "Large groups now owning nearly 60 per cent of practices ... Private equity firms have acquired 1,500 of 5,000 UK practices since 2013" $CVSG shares down 21% this morning https://t.co/hYpf6rPUll
UK competition watchdog to launch probe into veterinary market https://t.co/CCYlbefNOn
UK unemployment rises; competition watchdog plans formal investigation into vet pricing – business live https://t.co/FimQcJwlj1
Warning pet owners could be overpaying for medicine https://t.co/im6AfUGd32
A drone attacked Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez in the city of Kstovo in the Nizhny Novgorod region . The UAV hit the oil distillation plant directly. There is a fire in the area, - media https://t.co/katMCGypg5
Myttin Da #Cornwall The findings of a study into what vets charge are being published today. 🐕 What bills have you had? 🐈⬛ How clear were the costs? Let me hear your stories - here’s my girl less than pleased to be on a recent visit! https://t.co/n7HCtXJdH9
Review by @CMAgovUK into veterinary practices expected after concerns pet owners are paying too much. It's claimed prices are being driven to 'unsustainable' levels because more than half of vet practices are owned by just 6 companies. What are your vet bills like? #bbcgms 0615
The charity Cats Matter has announced that from June 10, 2024, it will be against the law for cat owners not to have their pets microchipped 😲 #cats #pets https://t.co/Hkf6KS8EIa
Cat owners issued strict three-month warning or face £500 fine 😲 #cats #pets https://t.co/25M4E58p3E
Cat owners in England have been given a three-month warning to microchip their pets or they could face a hefty £500 fine 😲 #cats #pets https://t.co/grHa6SlbZv
What are your vet bills like? 🐶🐱🐇 Have you noticed they’re going up? 👉 Let us know in the comments!⤵️ https://t.co/wtea1TMkIJ
All cat owners in England face £500 fines from June but three types exempt https://t.co/n43MrlPUic
All cat owners in UK face £500 fine from 10 June 2024 under a crackdown https://t.co/9cv6JZLhNI