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Ethel returned after six days on the run
Ethel (not pictured) was sighted in various locations across Doncaster.
Emu managed to evade capture from Police and RSPCA officers. 

An emu from Doncaster that had been on the run for almost a week has returned home.

The six-foot-bird, named Ethel, escaped from her enclosure last Thursday (6 August). Owner Kerry Dobson launched a new appeal for help on Tuesday (11 August), but Ethel has since returned.

Announcing Ethel's safe return on Facebook, Victoria Robinson-Hewitt said: “She’s home! Thank you all for sharing ... group effort this”.

According to the Doncaster Free Press, Ethel ran away after getting spooked by people taking her photograph. Police and RSPCA officers followed up several sighting in the Doncaster region, but she managed to evade their capture.

Native to Australia, emus are the second-largest birds in the world. They naturally range over large areas, foraging on insects, fruits and seeds.

Ethel is reported to have spent her few days of freedom roaming Sprotbrough, Newlands Park and the Trans Pennine Trail.

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

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News Shorts
Bluetongue RZ extended across Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced an extension to a Bluetongue Restricted Zone that is in place in south-west Scotland.

From 3 October, the Restricted Zone will be extended to cover the whole of Scotland. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) says this is in response to further disease spread, as well as simplify trading conditions ahead of the autumn.

Since the whole country will share a disease status, it will no longer be necessary to have a movement license to move susceptible livestock around the country. Restrictions on germinal products remain.

As of 1 October 2026, there were 1,979 cases of BTV-3 in England, 389 cases in Wales and 40 cases in Scotland.