Equine veterinary surgeon professor Renate Weller has won the Worshipful Company of Farriers (WCF) Honorary Fellowship in recognition of her "outstanding contribution to the craft of farriery and the welfare of the horse".

Professor Weller received the award at a recent Court meeting in London. She is the 33rd recipient of the award, granted by the governing Court "to a person who has rendered distinguished service to the Company and/or the craft of farriery," since its introduction in 1923.

Renate said the award was a "total surprise", adding: "To be recognised within your own industry is one thing but to be recognised in such a special way by an allied profession is another. It is an amazing award and I am delighted to accept it".

Leading feline charity Cats Protection has launched a heartwarming Christmas animation to raise awareness of the important work it does. The animation is based on a true story of a kitten that went missing earlier this year. Freezing cold and hungry, the kitten was dumped in a box on a roadside and somehow became separated from her brother and sisters.


Thankfully there is a happy end to this tail, and Libby - now named Misty - was eventually reunited with her littermates. Misty's owner, Amy Smith, said: "Misty has settled amazingly well into our home, she has found a best friend in my daughter Lily and likes to follow her around the house. She also loves to chase bugs in the garden. We feel very lucky to have her."

New York City councillors have voted overwhelmingly in favour of legislation that will see the ban of foie gras in the city. The move, which comes in response to animal cruelty concerns, will take effect in 2022.


 Councillor Carlina Rivera, who sponsored the legislation, told the New York Times that her bill "tackles the most inhumane process" in the commercial food industry. "This is one of the most violent practices, and it's done for a purely luxury product," she said.


 Foie gras is a food product made of the liver of a goose or duck that has been fattened, often by force-feeding. New York City is one of America's largest markets for the product, with around 1,000 restaurants currently offering it on their menu.

Applications are open for the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) Student Grant Scheme for innovative research projects designed to impact animal welfare.

Undergraduate and postgraduate students of veterinary science, veterinary nursing, agriculture studies and animal welfare are invited to submit their proposals to undertake research projects next year.

Grants are decided based on the project's innovation, relevance to topical animal welfare issues and ability to contribute towards raising animal welfare standards. For more information visit animalwelfarefoundation.org.uk.

Former secretary of the NOAH Code of Practice, Desmond Hutchinson, has been given a special award for his contribution to animal health.

Desmond was appointed Secretary to NOAH's Code of Practice Committee in 1997 and is set to retire in April. During his 22 years of service, he has attended more than 70 case meetings and processed some 120 cases.

Presenting the award at NOAH's VIP lunch in London, NOAH chair James Brannan said: "Desmond's outstanding services to our industry must be acknowledged. He is highly respected by his peers both past and present and, of course, by the NOAH secretariat.His work has assisted us in maintaining high promotional standards for veterinary medicines."

RZSS Highland Wildlife Park has welcomed the arrival of a litter of snow leopard cubs. The cubs were born to mum Animesh and dad Chan seven weeks ago and have started to explore life outside the cubbing box.

Keepers are delighted with the arrival, though say the coming weeks are critical for the cubs' survival. Una Richardson, the park's head of carnivores, said: "We are thrilled, though we remain cautious as this is still a very delicate stage in their development. Animesh has had three cubs and they will be health checked by our keepers and vets around three weeks from now."

"Snow leopards are relatively solitary animals, so dad Chan is living separately from Animesh and the cubs, who will remain with their mum until they are around two years old."