The study, published in Society & Natural Resources, found that environmental problems associated with dog walking were often linked to divided attention and poorly placed infrastructure rather than deliberate irresponsibility.

Researchers carried out 40 hours of observation at Puttenham Common, the Chantries and St Martha’s Hill, Norbury Park and Denbies Wine Estate. They also held a workshop with 15 farmers, land managers, countryside business owners and conservation professionals.

Across the observation periods, researchers recorded 11 occasions when dog fouling was missed. Waste was heavily concentrated within 50 to 100 metres of car parks and along busy paths, reflecting dogs’ tendency to toilet near the beginning of a walk.

Walkers using phones or headphones sometimes failed to notice their dogs fouling, leaving paths or entering sensitive habitats. People walking socially could also become absorbed in conversation, while professional dog walkers had to divide their attention between several animals.

The researchers also observed off-lead dogs entering undergrowth, disturbing birds and approaching livestock. However, the majority of walkers consistently picked up after their dogs, with some even collecting waste left by other animals.

Dr Tom Roberts, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Sociology at the University of Surrey, said:

“Dog walkers are often portrayed as either responsible or irresponsible, but our research shows that the reality is far more complicated. Most people care deeply about their dogs and the countryside. Problems frequently arise because their attention is divided or because facilities do not match how dog walking actually happens.”

Workshop participants suggested placing bins where dogs commonly toilet rather than only at entrances. They also supported dedicated off-lead areas away from sensitive habitats, community-led stewardship and short, friendly signs placed at junctions or other points where walkers make decisions.

Researchers observed that seasonal signs explaining the vulnerability of ground-nesting birds attracted more attention than generic instructions to keep dogs on leads. However, engagement appeared to fall as the signs became familiar.

Haeyoung Eun, Innovation Lead at the University of Surrey, said:

“Simply giving people more rules is unlikely to solve these problems. Land managers need to work with the routines, relationships and practical realities of dog walking. Well-placed bins, timely messages and suitable spaces for off-lead exercise could make responsible choices much easier.”

The researchers argue that dog walking should be recognised as an important source of exercise, wellbeing, social interaction and connection with nature, while acknowledging that these same qualities can sometimes create unintended environmental pressures.

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A call to action from a long-standing advocate

Lord Sandy Trees, a crossbench peer and former President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, has spent much of his career pressing for a more coordinated approach to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across human, animal and environmental health. Addressing delegates on behalf of RCVS Knowledge, he challenged the profession to move beyond awareness-raising and commit to developing an effective, deliverable roadmap that supports responsible antimicrobial usage in everyday clinical practice.

His message reflected a recurring theme in his parliamentary and professional work: that good intentions around stewardship must be backed by clear, measurable actions if resistance trends are to be reversed. He reminded delegates that veterinary professionals occupy a unique position at the intersection of animal welfare, food security and public health, and that decisions made in the consulting room or on farm can have consequences far beyond the individual patient.

Why a roadmap matters

AMR is widely recognised as one of the most significant long-term threats to both human and animal health. Few new classes of antibiotic have reached the market in recent decades, and none of these are licensed for veterinary use, meaning the profession is almost entirely reliant on preserving the effectiveness of existing agents. A clear roadmap, rather than a series of isolated initiatives, allows the sector to prioritise interventions, track progress consistently and adapt as new evidence emerges.

RCVS Knowledge has been building the evidence base and educational infrastructure to support exactly this kind of structured response. Its AMR Hub brings together resources on responsible antimicrobial and anti-parasiticide use, while the VetTeamAMR Learning Platform offers free continuing professional development covering species-specific prescribing, infection control, biosecurity and the behaviour change skills needed to support clients in changing long-held habits. Together, these resources are designed to give practice teams the confidence to challenge prescribing norms where appropriate, rather than defaulting to historical practice.

Aligning with the wider UK and international picture

Lord Trees’ challenge to delegates sits alongside a broader policy landscape. The UK’s second five-year national action plan on AMR, covering 2024 to 2029, sets out ambitions for the next phase of the country’s 20-year vision to contain and control resistance, while the annual Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance and Sales Surveillance (VARSS) report continues to track antibiotic sales and resistance patterns across the veterinary sector. Industry-led efforts, including the RUMA Targets Task Force, have also reported sustained progress against sector-specific usage targets in livestock farming.

Internationally, the World Health Organization’s European Roadmap on antimicrobial resistance, endorsed by health ministers and delegates from across the region, sets out a menu of high-impact interventions that countries can adapt to their own national context. The parallel with Lord Trees’ call is clear: a roadmap only delivers value if it is specific enough to act on, while remaining flexible enough to suit different practice settings, from companion animal clinics to mixed and farm animal practice.

What delegates were asked to do

Rather than presenting a finished blueprint, Lord Trees framed the roadmap as a collective project, inviting delegates to contribute their clinical experience and front-line insight to its development. This included identifying practical barriers to responsible prescribing, such as client expectations, time pressures during consultations and gaps in point-of-care diagnostics, as well as highlighting where existing CPD and support resources are working well and where further investment is needed.

He also pointed to the role of initiatives such as the Antibiotic Guardian scheme and the seasonal Animal Medicines Amnesty, which encourages clients to return unused medicines for safe disposal, as examples of small, achievable actions that can be woven into a larger strategic framework. The emphasis throughout was on translating stewardship principles into habits that are easy for practice teams to sustain day to day.

Looking ahead

For RCVS Knowledge, Lord Trees’ intervention reinforces a message the organisation has been building for several years: that AMR cannot be solved through education alone, but requires sustained behavioural and cultural change, underpinned by accessible evidence and clear, shared goals. Delegates left with a direct challenge, to treat the development of the roadmap not as an administrative exercise, but as a professional responsibility that extends to every prescribing decision made in practice.

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A Market Under the Microscope

The UK veterinary sector has changed dramatically over the past decade. Around 60% of practices are now in corporate ownership, controlled by a handful of major groups including CVS, IVC Evidensia, Medivet, and Pets at Home – several backed by private equity. Over the same period, veterinary prices rose by 63% between 2016 and 2023, roughly twice the rate of general inflation, leaving pet owners struggling to compare costs, understand who owned their practice, or access cheaper medicines elsewhere.

In September 2023, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a formal review. It received 56,000 responses, one of the most engaged consultations in the CMA’s history, and published its final report on 24 March 2026.

What the CMA Found

The investigation identified three core failures: a lack of pricing information that made it almost impossible for owners to compare practices; practical barriers, including prescription fees of £30 or more, that deterred people from sourcing medicines from cheaper online pharmacies; and a regulatory framework that had not kept pace with corporate consolidation. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) regulates individual vets but has limited reach over the businesses, not many of which are non-vet owned, that now control the majority of the market.

The Reforms: What Is Changing

The CMA’s legally binding package covers five main areas, with implementation beginning in late 2026.

Prescription fee caps. Written prescription fees are capped at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for additional items. Practices must also actively inform clients through their website and in all communications that they can request a written prescription and that substantial savings are often available from approved online pharmacies.

Mandatory price lists. Practices must publish comprehensive, publicly accessible price lists covering consultations, vaccinations, diagnostics, procedures, and cremation options, both online and in-practice.

Written estimates and itemised bills. For any treatment expected to exceed £500, practices must provide a written estimate in advance, including likely aftercare costs, and issue a fully itemised final bill on completion. Emergencies are exempt.

Ownership transparency. Veterinary businesses must make clear in their public branding whether they are part of a larger corporate group. The six major chains are expected to implement ownership labelling before the end of 2026.

Price comparison and complaints. The RCVS will run a new price comparison service, funded by a levy on veterinary businesses. Practices must also have formal complaints processes in place, with access to independent mediation where disputes cannot be resolved internally.

Responses and What Comes Next

The BVA broadly welcomed the transparency focus, while noting that practices face their own rising costs. Among corporate groups, reactions were largely positive – shares in CVS Group and Pets at Home rose on publication of the report, suggesting the sector had braced for more disruptive intervention. Independent practices have flagged concerns about the administrative burden, particularly for smaller businesses; the CMA has built in a three-month implementation extension for them.

The CMA has until 23 September 2026 to put legally binding Orders in place. Most remedies must then be implemented within three to twelve months. Alongside the Orders, the CMA has called urgently for a new Veterinary Surgeons Act – the current legislation dates to 1966 – to extend regulatory reach to cover veterinary businesses and their non-vet owners.

Sources

• Competition and Markets Authority — Final Report: Veterinary Services for Household Pets, 24 March 2026 (gov.uk)
• British Veterinary Association — CMA Investigation Resources and Response, March 2026 (bva.co.uk)
• The Webinar Vet — CMA Announces Major Reforms for the Veterinary Sector, April 2026 (thewebinarvet.com)
• Fieldfisher — CMA’s Final Report on Vet Services: What Businesses Need to Know, March 2026 (fieldfisher.com)
• Bird & Bird — Paws and Reflect: The CMA’s Final Report Confirms Major Reforms, April 2026 (twobirds.com)
• Veterinary Record — Veterinary Corporates Welcome CMA’s Final Report, March 2026 (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
• Vet Times — CMA Transparency Rules: What Do You Need to Know?, April 2026 (vettimes.com)

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