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Blue Cross calls on volunteers to help foster small animals
Blue Cross in Newport currently has a waiting list of 20 guinea pigs and rabbits.

Charity desperately seeking help for rabbits and guinea pigs

Animal charity Blue Cross in Newport is seeking people to help foster homeless small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. 


The organisations' Willenhall Street centre currently has a waiting list of 20 guinea pigs and rabbits, all in desperate need of a new home. But the unit doesn’t have any on-site accommodation, so is desperately seeking volunteers to foster the animals until a permanent placement can be found.


Blue Cross runs a Home Direct scheme that allows small animals to be re-homed from their current place of residence. However, the isn’t always possible for owners who need to find urgent accommodation for their pet. 


One volunteer who is currently fostering two baby rabbits is 32-year-old Laura Drummond. Laura, who saw the centre’s plea for foster carers on Facebook, said that she would urge any animal lover to follow in her footsteps.

“I work from home and have plenty of space and by fostering you feel like you’re making a real difference and get lots of support from the unit’s team.

“Currently I’m fostering some adorable three-month-old rabbits called Binky and Hopper who will be difficult to let go for sure but it’s just so rewarding to see animals I’ve helped head off to a loving new home, and I know there’s always more waiting to take their place in my home.”


Blue Cross Newport centre manager said: “We desperately need more foster carers like Laura to help us to help more small animals in the area. We currently only have four volunteers who can help us and they are already caring for small animals for us.

“Our volunteer foster carers provide a temporary home and care for our animals until we can find loving forever homes for them. They can also help many small animals to grow in confidence and help us to understand the kind of forever home we need to find for them.”

Blue Cross will cover the costs associated with the care of looking after a small pet, including food and veterinary treatment, as well as provide all of the equipment volunteers will need. Volunteers are required to have space for a small pet and time to feed, clean and socialise the animals each day.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can find out more at www.bluecross.org.uk/volunteer or they can call the rehoming and advice unit on 0300 7771590.

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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.