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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 12th November 2014
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What do we do about the "cat crisis"?
kittens
In Surrey alone, the RSPCA has rescued 384 cats so far this year.
Vets invited to an event hosted by Surrey vet school and the RSPCA

Surrey's new vet school has teamed up with the RSPCA to tackle the UK's overpopulation of cats. The school hopes its students will lead the way in changing attitudes to early neutering.

More than 120 veterinary practices in Surrey have been invited to a training evening on December 2 to discuss a solution to the problem.

A panel of experts will attend, including the RSPCA's chief vet James Yeates, Surrey's Gail Anderson and representatives from regional RSPCA inspectorates and Cats Protection centres.

James said: "The idea behind the evening is both to share with vets in the area the problems we are facing with the overpopulation of cats, and provide a forum for us to discuss the best ways of dealing with it".

In Surrey alone, the RSPCA has rescued 384 cats so far this year. This is up from 260 in the same period last year. Across England and Wales as a whole, the charity has rescued 30,205 cats compared to 27,840 in 2013.

James Yeates said he hopes the training evening will become "the launchpad for finding a solution in Surrey".

"Last year was horrendous in terms of the number of cats which were abandoned. They were left in boxes outside our shops, by rubbish bins, in woodland and all kinds of places - it was heartbreaking."

Recent research found that 85 per cent of litters are unplanned. The RSPCA believes this is because too few owners realise cats can get pregnant from four months of age.

Professor Anderson, head of veterinary education at Surrey vet school said: "By highlighting the advantages of early age neutering for cats we can address the problem of unwanted 'teen pregnancies' in cats that add so much to the problem.

"We want our vet students to be leaders in changing the attitude to early neutering so it becomes the norm for the profession".

The event will be held at the University of Surrey in Guildford. It costs £20 a head, including refreshments, and will count as CPD certification. Contact the university's Julia Gerhold on jgerhold@surrey.ac.uk for information about attending.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.