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Stars unite for Animal Hero Awards
Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais with Dr Brian May and RSPCA inspector Kate Fletcher.

Ricky Gervais honoured for outstanding contribution to animal welfare

Comedian Ricky Gervais has been honoured by the RSPCA for his outstanding contribution to animal welfare at a glittering awards ceremony in London.

Held on Wednesday evening (21 October), the Animal Hero Awards celebrate the most inspiring examples of bravery, dedication and resilience in the animal world.

Ricky - a Bafta-award winning director, actor and writer -  has used social media to draw attention to several animal welfare campaigns this year to over 10 million of his followers.  These included the campaign to repeal the Hunting Act and the RSPCA's Scrap the Puppy Trade campaign, which pushed to introduce laws to regulate the sale of puppies in England and Wales.

On accepting his award, presented by Queen's Brian May, Ricky said: “I think the RSPCA are great, they are the people on the frontline they are the people who are tackling it.”

He praised RSPCA inspectors, saying: “Those people are amazing, they are an emergency service, they are fantastic.”

Ricky added: “I think it is one of the greatest privileges of freedom of speech, to use your voice for those who don’t have one. I think people who are kind to animals are the loveliest people.”

This is the third year for the Animal Hero Awards, hosted in conjunction with the RSPCA, Daily Mirror and Bayer pharmaceuticals.

Other worthy winners on the night included Victoria Bryceson, who won Animal Enthusiast of the Year for dedicating her life to helping animals in Borneo.

RSPCA Superstar of the Year went to Julie Bedford, a pet behavioural expert who has put together two courses for RSPCA staff to help dogs showing signs of aggression in RSPCA care.

TV vet Marc Abraham was awarded Vet of the Year and Celia Hammond, former model turned animal welfare campaigner, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Speaking at the ceremony RSPCA interim chief executive David Canavan said: "The Animal Hero Awards is a fantastic event and one that the RSPCA are very proud to be part of.

"I was honoured to hear all the animal heroes' stories. Having an event dedicated to the positive power of animals really shows the impact they have on our lives and highlights the wonderful work of the people who help and heal them." 

Image (C) RSPCA

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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.