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Stuffed toy tiger leads to police call-out
Cuddly toy mistaken for real escaped tiger

Police in the German city of Braunschweig urgently scrambled a specialist armed response unit and called in a team of wildlife experts equipped with tranquilizer guns when a member of the public reported seeing an escaped tiger in the street. However, upon arrival at the scene the police promptly realised that the tiger in question was in fact a near life-sized stuffed toy and therefore presented no danger to public safety.

"It's better to be safe than sorry,” insisted Sara Faerber, 28, who raised the alarm. “In the half-light it looks just like a real tiger sitting there watching me. I edged backwards and then ran off and expected to feel it leap on my back at any moment. I was really scared.”

The toy was ultimately transported back to the local police station on the lap of an officer. Commenting on the matter, a police spokesperson said that "We'd like to find the owner just to piece together what happened. If we don't, we will probably arrange for it to be donated to a local children's home."

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Webinar to explore AMR in vet dentistry

News Story 1
 The WSAVA has invited veterinary professionals to a webinar on responsible antibiotic usage in dentistry.

On 19 November 2025, at 1am, Dr J Scott Weese and Dr Brooke Niemiec will share the latest advice for antimicrobial use. They will present research on oral bacterology, and explain how attendees can choose appropriate antibiotics.

The session will cover pre-, intra- and post-operative guidelines, with recommendations for various pathologies.

The webinar is designed to support veterinary professionals to make informed decisions and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Attendees can register here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue reaches Wales for first time in 2025

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has revealed that bluetongue has been confirmed in Wales for the first time in 2025.

In their latest statistics, APHA records a total of 109 cases of BTV-3 or BTV-8 in Great Britain in the 2025-2026 vector season.

The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain this season is 107. This includes 103 cases within the England restricted zone and four cases in Wales.

There has also been two cases of BTV-8, which were both in Cornwall.

As a result of the cases in Wales, a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is enforced in Monmouthshire. Animals can move freely under general license within the England Restricted Zone, however animals with suspected bluetongue must stay on their holding.

All premises testing positive for blue tongue can be viewed on this map.