Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

RSPCA set for a surge in abandoned animals
Calls to the RSPCA about abandoned animals spiked by almost 50 per cent from June to August last year.
Figures show summer 2017 saw a huge spike in callouts

The RSPCA is preparing itself for a surge in abandoned animals as new figures show summer 2017 was an incredibly busy time for the animal charity.

According to the figures, calls to the RSPCA about abandoned animals spiked by almost 50 per cent from June to August last year, compared to the colder months.

The figures also show the number of abandoned animals taken in by the RSPCA peaked in June 2017, with 850 dumped animals rescued.

Summer is the peak season for the RSPCA and the warmer months of 2017 saw more than 10,000 calls to its 24-hour emergency hotline - that’s one every 12 minutes. The calls involved cats tied up in bags, horses abandoned at the roadside and dogs dumped out with the rubbish.

“With the number of calls rising and an increase in the number of animals collected, we are facing another welfare crisis this year as we head into the summer months,” explained RSPCA assistant director of inspectorate Dermot Murphy.

“Last summer our team of inspectors and officers investigated more complaints of abandoned animals than they had done for two years which shows a worrying trend that things might be getting worse.

“We try to help as many animals as we can but we have just 332 inspectors which means one inspector for every 162,000 people so we have to prioritise the animals who are suffering most.”

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

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.