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A decade of collaboration between assistance dog charities
Deafblind dog
Angela with dual-trained guide dog Mel.
Celebration of dual-trained dogs for people with double sensory loss

This week (June 23-29) is Deafblind Awareness Week, marking one decade of partnership between Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and Guide Dogs.
 
Over the past 10 years, the two assistance dog charities have worked together, training 25 assistance dog partnerships for people who suffer from combined hearing and sight loss.
 
Lee Stanway from Guide Dogs said: “By working with our colleagues at Hearing Dogs over the last 10 years, we have been able to reach people not just with sight loss but other sensory impairments and give the freedom, confidence and independence they deserve.”
 
Recent research conducted by Sense suggests that there are 356,000 people living with dual sensory loss in the UK. Deafblind Awareness Week aims to improve awareness and understanding of the daily challenges people face.
 
Angie Platten, head of partnership services from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People said: “Hearing dogs are trained to respond to important sounds and danger signals, and help to alleviate the isolation and loneliness that deafness so often brings. 
 
“We work together with Guide Dogs to make a life-changing difference to people with a dual sensory loss, and we hope to create many more of these partnerships in the future.”
 
Ten years ago, Angela Hassall was trained with Roddy, and became the first person in the UK to have a dual-trained guide dog. Roddy is now retired and lives with Angela’s daughter Sarah, and Angela has a new dual-trained Labrador/retriever cross called Mel.
 
Angela said: “Without the two dogs I’ve had, I don’t think I could have carried on. I became very lonely before I got Roddy, but both dogs have given me great joy. Roddy was a brilliant dog who was very friendly and got me talking to people. Mel is very cheeky and a real character, we go everywhere together. I’m very grateful to everyone involved in training these wonderful dogs.”
 
Image courtesy of Guide Dogs.
 
 

 

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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News Shorts
New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.