Why this site exists
Since the first confirmed human case of Brucella canis in the UK in 2022, the UK Government, through DEFRA and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), has continued to monitor Brucella canis in the UK and develop its understanding of the potential risks it may pose to both animal and human health.
At the same time, there has been a significant amount of information about Brucella canis circulating online. Some of this is accurate and evidence-based, while some is incomplete, misleading or simply incorrect. For dog owners already facing the uncertainty of a positive Brucella canis test, conflicting information can be extremely confusing and distressing.
In some cases, misunderstandings about the infection, testing and the available guidance may contribute to decisions about a dog’s care that are not necessarily supported by the available evidence. This can have profound consequences for dogs and their owners.
This website has been created to help address that information gap.
Our aim is to signpost owners, rescues and veterinary professionals towards the official, scientific and evidence-based information available about Brucella canis, bringing together reliable sources in one place and helping people understand them in context.
We believe that understanding Brucella canis requires more than simply knowing whether a test is reported as positive or negative. It requires an understanding of what different tests actually detect, what their results can and cannot tell us, the routes and circumstances of transmission, the available government guidance, and the limitations and uncertainties that still exist within the evidence.
Our goal is therefore to promote a balanced and proportionate understanding of Brucella canis. We do not seek to minimise the potential risks associated with the infection, either to dogs or to people. Equally, we believe that those risks should be understood alongside the available evidence, rather than through fear, assumption or misinformation.
About Team BC
Team BC is the name we affectionately use for our fabulous community of volunteers, dog owners, rescues and professionals who are members of the Brucella Canis Information & Support Group.
The group was established in 2023 by Zoe Redhead, at the request of Dr Louise Buckley (Brucella Canis RVN), who was increasingly being contacted by dog owners who were confused, frightened and isolated following their dogs’ positive Brucella canis test results.
Since then, the group has grown into a community of more than 8,500 members. It is carefully moderated by a dedicated admin team committed to ensuring that evidence-based, factual and accessible information about Brucella canis is available to everyone.
As well as explaining the science behind Brucella canis and the different tests used to detect it, Team BC provides practical information about accessing veterinary care, understanding government guidance, testing options for rescue organisations and advocating for the welfare and rights of affected dogs.
Most importantly, Team BC provides a safe and supportive space where owners can ask questions, share their experiences and find understanding from people who genuinely know how isolating and frightening a positive Brucella canis test can feel.
We strongly encourage dog owners to join our Facebook group so that the resources on this website can be explored in context and alongside appropriate peer support. The group allows members to discuss information, ask questions and share experiences with others who have faced similar circumstances.
For veterinary professionals, we signpost to the Facebook page of Brucella Canis RVN, which provides additional information and discussion around Brucella canis, testing and the practical challenges faced by dogs, owners and veterinary teams.
An evolving evidence base
Brucella canis is considered an emerging disease, and our understanding of it—including its prevalence, transmission and potential effects on animal and human health—is continuing to develop.
We recognise that guidance and scientific understanding may change as new evidence becomes available. This website will therefore be regularly reviewed and updated, with the aim of ensuring that owners, rescues and professionals can access the latest reliable information and official guidance.
Our purpose is simple: to help people make informed decisions about Brucella canis based on the best available evidence, with appropriate caution, context and proportionality.