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Recovery assistance dog receives PDSA Commendation
Owner Liz Maitland says Milli's companionship has helped to drastically improve her mental health.

Cocker spaniel credited with saving owners life

A recovery assistance dog from Leicester, named Milli, has been awarded with a PDSA Commendation in recognition of her devotion and support of her owner.

Ten-year-old Milli has been with her owner Liz Maitland since she was a puppy. Ms Maitland says she has always struggled with her mental health, and was encouraged to adopt an animal companion after a particularly dark period in her life.

“I struck up an immediate bond with Milli, she made me feel at ease and I knew I now had someone who would always be there for me,” She said.

“I learned a lot about the benefits of recovery assistance dogs and I decided to train Milli to be one. Her presence keeps me calm and if I ever feel stressed or anxious, she makes me feel safe. Whenever I feel uncomfortable Milli will touch me for reassurance and put space between me and other people.

In 2004, Ms Maitland set up the charity RECOVERY Assistance Dogs (RAD), which works to provide training for dogs like Milli and raise awareness about the benefits of dog ownership for mental health and wellbeing.

Philip Shanks, client services manager, presented Milli with her PDSA Commendation at a special ceremony at Leicester PDSA Pet Hospital.

Mr Shanks commented: “The strong bonds between pets and people are well-documented. As well as providing companionship, our research shows they can play a crucial role in helping improve people’s mental health. Milli has been a constant source of comfort and safety, and I am delighted that their bond has inspired Liz to help other people who need support from companions like Milli.”

Image (c) PDSA.

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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. 

Click here for more...
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.