Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 14th August 2015
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

'Sniffer rats' join Dutch police force
rat
One of the rats, Derrick, is 98.8 per cent accurate in all cases. (stock photo)
Rat team can detect drugs and gunpowder
 
An elite group of rats named after well-known fictional detectives have been trained to sniff out drugs and gunpowder - with around 95 per cent accuracy.

Dutch police are training the sniffer rats in order to help save money, ABC reports. Gunshots leave behind a residue that until now could only be detected in a laboratory - a far more costly process that can take at least two hours.

Rat trainer Monique Hamerslag told ABC: "Rats can do the same thing in seconds."

The formidable five have been named Magnum, Poirot, Derrick (after a the protagonist of a popular German TV show) and Thompson and Thompson (from The Adventures of Tin Tin).

They are being trained in Rotterdam and Derrick is said to be unbeatable - achieving accuracy of 98.8 per cent in all cases.

Hamerslag told ABC the rats will soon be sufficiently skilled to use in criminal investigations.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.