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Dear colleagues,

I am writing to thank you for the part you, and the wider veterinary profession, are playing in our fight against what is perhaps the greatest health challenge this country has faced in our lifetime.

The Government has taken some unprecedented steps to ask people to stay at home, to protect our NHS and save lives. The more we all follow the rules, the fewer lives will be lost and the sooner life can return to normal.

Our success in responding to, and recovering from, the outbreak will come from all of us working together. It has been so encouraging to see many fantastic examples of this across many sectors and groups, including the veterinary profession. As you may know, today marks World Vet Day, so I want to take this opportunity to thank you and your profession for playing your part. Your willingness and support in providing critical veterinary equipment to the NHS for medical use has helped individuals, their families, and our fantastic health colleagues.

I know for the veterinary profession, the COVID-19 outbreak has its own specific pressures. Every animal you see has a person linked with it. I appreciate that, in responding to urgent animal health and welfare issues, you are dealing with a number of challenges: respecting social distancing, finding new ways of working at speed including tele-consultations and responding to clients’ worries and expectations – your work is vital. This is why I and my Government colleagues are enormously thankful for all the work that you have done in recent weeks, and will continue to do in the weeks ahead.

Rt Hon George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs