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GPS tracking and thermal imaging used to find missing tortoise
Sarah with Zuma
Sarah Joiner has owned Zuma for four decades.

Pet rescued after being collected by a rubbish truck

A pet tortoise that crawled into a rubbish bag and was collected by a refuse lorry has been returned home safe and well, after city council and waste services staff went to extreme lengths to save him.

Worried owner Sarah Joiner, 56, called Westminster City Council when she realised her 90-year-old tortoise Zuma was missing.

Council staff leapt into action, using GPS tracking to find the lorry that had collected Zuma. Luckily, they were able to trace the collection vehicle, which was carrying 10 tonnes of waste, before it tipped its waste into the huge storage bunker which processes thousands of tonnes of waste.

Zuma's owner Sarah donned protective clothing and helped waste management staff in their search for her tortoise. Aided by a thermal imaging camera, they hunted through around 1,000 black bin bags and, after a two-and-a-half hour search, found Zuma unharmed.

Contract manager Lynn Davis, commented: "I'm delighted we were able to find Zuma and return him to Mrs Joiner unharmed, he really has survived against the odds. The team were all keen to help when they heard what had happened and together we were able to ensure that the search was conducted safely and effectively.

"This was certainly a different way to spend a Friday afternoon and I'm just relieved we were successful."

Sarah, who has owned Zuma for four decades, added: "Thank you is never going to be enough. It was amazing teamwork; there was no nonsense about it just enormous goodwill in finding him."

Image courtesy of Westminster City Council

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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.