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Report calls for alternatives to snares
‘Glorious Twelfth’ (12 August) marks the start of the grouse shooting season.
Wildlife control methods assessed for humaneness 

A new report is calling for a ban on snaring and instead encourages the use of seven more humane control methods for wildlife.

The report has been released just ahead of the ‘Glorious Twelfth’ (12 August), which marks the start of the grouse shooting season. The League Against Cruel Sports says shooting estates are being ‘propped up by the widespread and unnecessary slaughter of British wildlife’, which is carried out to protect red grouse for shooting.

For the first time, the different methods of animal control have been graded for efficiency, humaneness, and how conservation-friendly they are.

Independent animal welfare consultant Dr Mark Kennedy, who carried out the research, encouraged the use of seven control methods that were rated highly in all three of the above areas. The alternatives are: shepherding, tree guards, ‘novel’ disturbances such as lights or noises, guard animals, habitat management, no control and exclusion fencing.

Other methods rated less highly in each area, but were judged to be potentially acceptable in some cases, if they were properly regulated. These are reproductive control, cage traps, shooting and flushing to guns with two dogs (exempt hunting).

However, ferreting, poison, gassing, snares and hunting (pre- 2004 ban or current illegal hunting with a full pack) are ‘clearly inhumane’. Poison, gassing and hunting are banned in the UK, but snaring and ferreting are legal.

Animal welfare organisations widely condemn snares owing to their indiscriminate nature - they can potentially catch and kill hundreds of thousands of animals a year, including foxes, badgers, hares, deer and even pet cats and dogs, the League says.

According to the charity, snares are used on 27 per cent of landholdings that host shooting, compared to 0.1 per cent of those who do not.

Commenting on the report, Philippa King, the League’s acting CEO, said: “Snares are medieval devices which inflict great suffering on huge numbers of animals, and we’ve been calling for them to be banned for a long time.

“Now we have the evidence which demolishes the shooting industry’s biggest argument in favour of them – that there is no alternative. That can no longer be an excuse – if animal control is required, there are several other methods which are more efficient, friendlier to the environment, and more humane.”

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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. 

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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.