The Blue Cross has reported a 28 per cent rise in the number of young horses and ponies being admitted to its centres this year. The charity is urgently seeking experienced temporary homes for 23 youngsters, as well as eight mares with foals at foot, in order to free up space for the anticipated winter intakes. Emmett was less than a year old when he was rescued last year but has now been rehomed as a field-mate. To find out more visit the Blue Cross website

Image courtesy of the Blue Cross

NOWZAD Dogs, which runs a Kabul-based humane stray dog control programme, has been announced as the BVNA's charity for 2013-14.

The charity was founded in 2007 by Royal Marine Sergeant Pen Farthing, who was befriended by an Afghan fighting dog while serving in Helmand Province.

The charity is currently the only organisation to operate a humane stray dog control programme to reduce the spread of rabies within Kabul while promoting animal welfare to the Afghan population.It also operates and manages the only animal welfare shelter in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Pen Farthing said: "I am delighted to have the support and backing of the BVNA, this relationship can only help us produce even better results with developing animal welfare programmes in Afghanistan".

Newly-inducted president of BVNA, Kirstie Shield, said: "BVNA is delighted to have chosen Nowzad Dogs as its charity of the year.We look forward to helping with fundraising and increasing awareness of this deserving charity over the following 12 months."

More information about Nowzad Dogs can be found at www.nowzad.com

Tickets have gone on sale for Crufts 2014, which will take place from March 6 to 9 at the NEC in Birmingham. Advance tickets for the show on Thursday and Friday will cost £15 for adults and £11 for concessions, and on Saturday and Sunday will be £16 for adults and £12 for concessions. Entry is free throughout the show for children aged 11 and under. Tickets for specific competitions, including 'Best in Show' are sold separately. Book tickets online or by calling 0844 444 9944.

Image of last year's winner courtesy of the Kennel Club.

PETA and its European and Asian affiliates have launched a not-for-profit science company - the PETA International Science Consortium (PISC). The new company will work with industry, private research facilities and regulatory bodies on developing strategies to implement and promote non-animal research methods. PISC Director Jessica Sandler, said: "By influencing national and international testing regulations and guidelines, PISC will help countries around the world shift more quickly to modern, humane science."

The Harrogate International Centre (HIC) has announced it will host the next International Sheep Veterinary Congress (ISVC) in May, 2017. Around 700 world leading animal health experts are expected to attend the congress. Paul Ashton, sales manager at HIC, said: "It's great for HIC but it's also great for the local economy." Paul said he was able to secure the contract thanks to HIC's links to nearby Leeds/Bradford airport and strong regional associations with sheep farming and agriculture.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's Edinburgh Zoo has released a statement about the possible pregnancy of its female giant panda, Tian Tian. Her hormones are following an atypical pattern, it reports, but external experts believe she may have experienced her secondary progesterone spike two weeks later than previously suggested. International colleagues will be helping to review results with the zoo this week, during the Giant Panda Research Symposium.