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Serious case review published on dog attack
police
The NSCB will seek assurances from Northamptonshire Police that aggressive dogs will be recognised as a potential hazard to children in the home, during training for frontline officers.
Report on baby's death make dog safety recommendations

The Northampton Safeguarding Children Board (NSCB) has published its serious case review into the death of a six-month-old baby, who was fatally attacked by a pitbull-type dog in her mother's home two years ago.

Molly-Mae Wotherspoon, who is referred to as 'Child Q' in the report, died on 3 October 2014 after one of two dogs in the household broke free from its cage in the kitchen and attacked her while she lay in her moses basket in the lounge. Police arrived at the scene within five minutes but were unable to save her due to the severity of her injuries.

A serious case review was launched in the aftermath of her death to scrutinise the roles of professionals involved with her during her short life.

According to the report, a health visitor became aware there were dogs in the home on one occasion, but showed no curiosity about whether they could be a risk to the child. As a result, NSCB is recommending that midwives and health visitors proactively ask parents about the presence of pets in the home and provide information on dog safety. In order to facilitate this, standardised, up-to-date and evidence-based information - in line with RSPCA guidance for frontline practitioners - should be made available and delivered by health professionals.

The NSCB should also seek assurances from Northamptonshire Police that aggressive dogs will be recognised as a potential hazard to children in the home, during training for frontline officers. Furthermore, the board will urge the College of Policing to include dog safety in the national policing safeguarding training curriculum.

The independent chair of the NSCB was also encouraged to write to the RCVS chief executive, to determine whether it would be feasible or desirable to create a mandatory scheme for members of the college to report dangerous or aggressive dogs to the statutory authorities.

The report concludes that poor practice could be identified among some agencies, but 'nothing suggests that any single professional could, or should, have prevented Child Q's death'.

Molly-Mae's mother, 23, was last month sentenced to two years in prison for owning a dangerously out of control dog, and the child's maternal grandmother, 56, was handed the same sentence for being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog.

A complaint made about the dog in January 2014 is the subject of a report published last month by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, centring on the failure of Northamptonshire Police to act on the RSPCA's concerns about the dog.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.