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Seal surge prompts RSPCA to launch urgent appeal
A grey seal during her release soon after she was admitted to RSPCA's East Winch Wildlife Centre.
Extreme weather sees record number of seals admitted to charity's wildlife centres

A surge in sick and needy seal admissions to the RSPCA’s wildlife centres has prompted the charity to launch a crisis appeal for donations.

The RSPCA says that a record 350 seals were admitted to RSPCA centres in 2017, up almost 100 from the previous year. As such, the charity has seen its costs soar, with the monthly fish bill alone topping £14,000.

Currently, there are some 150 seals under the RSPCA’s care. Experts at the charity believe the surge is due to a ‘perfect storm’ of extreme weather coming at the height of the grey seal breeding season.

RSPCA head of wildlife Adam Grogan said: “We have never cared for so many seals at this time of the year before.  As storm after storm hit our coastline earlier this winter, more and more seals have been admitted to our wildlife centres in Somerset, Cheshire, Norfolk and East Sussex.

“It couldn’t have happened at a worse time for them - during the pupping season - which means most of these poor seals would have still been dependent on their mother. The seals eat enormous amounts of fish - mostly mackerel - and this represents a huge part of the wildlife centres’ budgets."

To cope with the increase in seal admissions, extra staff and volunteers have been taken on to provide 24-hour care, tube-feeding and medical treatment. The RSPCA said that it takes on average at least three months to rehabilitate a seal back to the wild, so the ongoing costs are significant.

“If it wasn’t for us, these seal pups might have starved to death. But we really need the public’s help because without their donations we simply couldn’t do what we do,” said Adam. “This winter hasn’t been too kind to these seals so far, but hopefully the public’s generosity will bring them a little bit of sunshine.”

For more information about the campaign and to make a donation, visit www.rspca.org.uk 

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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. 

Click here for more...
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.