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Last dancing bear rescued from Ukraine
Kristina was rescued by Four Paws in partnership with Ukranian authorities

Kristina spent her days trapped inside a tiny cage

The last dancing bear in Ukraine can now recover in peace and tranquillity, thanks to the efforts of an international animal charity.

Bear Kristina was rescued by Four Paws in partnership with Ukranian authorities and has been moved to the safety of its newly-built bear sanctuary Domazhyr near Lviv.

The rescue mission took place last week, moments before Kristina was due to make an appearance in Ivao Frankove, Western Ukraine.
Following hours of negotiations with Kristina’s uncooperative owner, police and environmental inspectors decided to intervene and seize the bear.

The bear was moved to the sanctuary where she will now be cared for and monitored until a court decides that she can stay there for good. At present, the confiscation is only temporary.

Carsten Hertwig, a FOUR PAWS bear expert who brought Kristina to her new home, says that while Kristina is doing well under the circumstances, her condition is not ideal.

“At first, we brought Kristina into an indoor enclosure so that she could get used to both her new surroundings and our bear keepers, who observed her behaviour closely. On her second day, they decided to let her into a larger outdoor enclosure,” she said.

Kristina spent much of life in terrible conditions. Her owner kept her inside a tiny cage in his van while she was paraded around circuses and restaurants. Sometimes temperatures inside the van could get as high as 30 degrees celsius.

Time and time again, Kristina’s owner insisted that she perform in circuses or pedestrian areas for public enjoyment. During the winter months, when ‘entertainment season’ was over, Kristina spent her days in a tiny shed on the grounds of fish factory.

Kristina, together with another bear rescued earlier this year, are the first residents of the species-appropriate, natural home. The sanctuary will eventually provide shelter to thirty bears that have previously been subject to abuse, neglect or cruelty.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.