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Veterinary nurse to spend 48 hours as a rabbit
Emma Purnell dressed as a rabbit
Emma will stay in the human hutch for 48 hours, dressed as a rabbit and eating only carrots and muesli.

Emma Purnell will enter a "human hutch" to highlight poor rabbit care

Veterinary nurse Emma Purnell is preparing for a 48-hour stay in a human-sized rabbit hutch to raise awareness of the "miserable" living conditions of many pet rabbits in the UK.

A self confessed "crazy bunny lady", Emma is head nurse at Stocks Veterinary Centre in Worcestershire. At 5pm today (March 20), she will don a rabbit outfit and enter the cramped "human hutch", where she will eat only carrots and muesli with a guinea pig for company.

Emma's challenge has so far attracted much attention from the media and she has raised more than £1,000 for Fat Fluffs and Windwhistle Warren Rabbit Rescue.

"I will be cold, lonely, hungry and miserable," she says. "Living in cramped conditions, being fed on a diet of muesli and carrots…for me it's just 48 hours to raise awareness, for thousands of rabbits it's their life and it needs to change."

As well as raising money for charity, Emma hopes to dispel myths about rabbit care and educate owners on the proper environment, diet and social interaction with which to provide their pet.

Emma explains: "As a bunny mum myself, it amazed me the change in one of my own rescues from when I initially took him on, to when he had company, a proper diet, space to be a proper rabbit and much more environmental stimulation.

"It really does make the world of difference to these animals and people often just don't realise how complex they are. I hope that seeing me in the place of a rabbit they may put themselves in their own pet rabbit's place and it may help to improve their lives just a little.

"Both of the rescues I am fundraising for have helped me with unwanted and abandoned rabbits in the past and do an amazing job."

To sponsor Emma, visit: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/thehutchrabbit

For updates on her progress, see: https://www.facebook.com/hutchbunnyfundraiser or https://twitter.com/TheHutchBunny

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Webinar to explore history of KC breed registers

News Story 1
 A free webinar exploring the development of the Kennel Club's registration system and the evolution of closed breed registers has been announced.

Hosted by Dr Alison Skipper, veterinary and research advisor at the Kennel Club, the webinar will delve into the development of the registry and how the changing landscape of scientific knowledge has shaped breeding practices. It will also look at what this means for the future of pedigree dogs.

The session will culminate with a look at The Kennel Club's ongoing and future engagement in this area, with a chance for attendees to put forward their thoughts and questions for discussion.

This event takes place on Microsoft Teams on Tuesday, 10 June at 7pm. To learn more, visit events.teams.microsoft.com  

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.