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eBayer with bird phobia raises thousands for hen charity
Megan surrounded by cuddly toys which she sells to raise funds for the British Hen Welfare Trust.

Megan Whiteman suffers from ornithophobia

An online fundraiser with a bird phobia has raised more than £25,000 to help to save hens from slaughter.

Megan Whiteman from Nuneaton set up her eBay shop in 2013 and by 2016 had raised over £12,000. In just two years she has more than doubled that figure and donated all proceeds to the British Hen Welfare Trust.

She was inspired to raise funds for the charity after falling in love with some ex-battery hens that her mother had re-homed. But Megan hasn’t always been such a fan of feathered animals.

“I was pretty terrified,” she said. “I didn't realise it was quite so bad until the hens arrived actually. Aggie, one of our less well-adjusted girls, started to fly at the gate for food every time I went out. After about two days of nightmares (including one where I thought they'd invaded the bedroom!), I got totally used to them.

“I then learnt my great grandmother had a phobia of birds too, as well as my aunt, whose particular horror revolved around geese. One of my other hens, Bunty, helped a lot; she was like a chicken version of me, so we bonded really quickly. She was bossy and food mad!”

A fear of birds is known as ornithophobia and makes sufferers extremely uncomfortable in their presence. It is a common fear that is thought to affect around one in 10 people at least once in their lifetime.

Megan’s drive to help as many hens as she could meant that she wasn’t surprised to hit the £25,000 mark. “The hens need as much money as possible so I can't afford to fail really,” she said.

Visitors to Megan’s eBay shop can expect to find anything from cuddly toys and pet treats to books and rare paintings. Yet to be sold is a Disney bear worth £500, which is one of her most expensive items to date. 

Image (C) British Hen Welfare Trust

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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...
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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.