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Man fined for trapping and keeping wild birds
RSPCA inspectors and police found 13 live goldfinches kept in tiny cages, as well as one siskin and a dead goldfinch.

Fifteen birds found in cramped cages 

A man has been fined for illegally trapping and keeping wild birds after 15 birds were found at his home in Kent, along with various tools to suggest he was trapping the birds himself.

Kent Police officers and RSPCA inspectors visited the home of Frantisek Fercak, 40, at Albion Terrace, Gravesend, on 8 September 2017. They found 13 live goldfinches kept in tiny cages, as well as one siskin and a dead goldfinch.

“These wild birds can’t cope in captivity and become very distressed being shut in cages,” said RSPCA inspector Cliff Harrison, who led the investigation into Mr Fercak. “They don’t understand the concept of being confined and, tragically, they often die.”

The surviving birds were removed and later released back into the wild.

Inspectors also found tools, including a bird feeder coated in glue, at Mr Fercak’s home.

“A bird feeder in the garden as well as things attached to the seed holders were covered in a glue-like substance,” inspector Harrison added. “This is a tactic we’ve seen before by bird trappers who are trying to attract the birds to food and then capture them.”

According to inspector Harrison, Mr Fercak claimed the birds were his and had been brought to the UK from his native country, Czech Republic.

There was also an open tube of rodent glue nearby. Mr Harrison said the RSPCA “has real concerns” about such products  “as they can be extremely painful and distressing for animals who get stuck in them, and can cause them to die slow, agonising deaths”.

Mr Fercak appeared at Chatham Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 11 December, where he pleaded guilty to five offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, according to the RSPCA. He was fined a total of £500 plus £300 court costs and a £50 victim surcharge. 

Image courtesy of the RSPCA

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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.