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Animal rescuers banned from Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean (Jonathan Billinger)
The Forestry Commission has warned Mr Passmore against going onto land it manages.

Forestry Commission rejects charity’s offer to run a 24-hour callout service

An animal rescue charity has been banned from accessing Forestry Commission land over the weekend to retrieve injured wildlife.

A Wild Life With Animals has been rescuing animals in the Forest of Dean for the past four years.

But now its founder, Scott Passmore, has been told that he is not allowed to use the organisation’s ambulance to access the woods.

The Forestry Commission employs rangers who work from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Passmore said that he had offered to run a 24-hour callout service for free, as leaving injured animals over the weekend was “inhumane”.

In a statement, the Forestry Commission warned Mr Passmore against going onto land it managed.

It said that he may be “in breach of the Forestry Commission Bylaws 1982 and that Welfare of Animals (transport) order 1997 by an individual causing suffering to an injured wild animal, even by taking it to a vet.”

A Forestry Commission spokesperson said that it employed staff "to deal with animal welfare issues" on its land but "response may need to wait until staff are available".

They added that while they respected Mr Passmore's "good intentions" they would not grant permission to recover animals.

Mr Passmore told the BBC he would be writing to Defra to ask whether the Forestry Commission might be in breach of animal welfare laws. 

Image (C) Jonathan Billinger

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

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.