Last week, the debate over the religious slaughter of animals in the UK was reignited when John Blackwell, the President-elect of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), expressed his concerns over the welfare of those animals subjected to the Halal and Shechita methods of slaughter. He argued that the considerable pain and stress animals were placed under during slaughter was obvious, and that religious groups should do more to protect the welfare of those animals at the time of death.