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Cash boost for Dementia Dogs Project
More than 500 people living with dementia are set to benefit from the Dog Days.
Charity to pilot a series of community events

A series of community events and trials using trained therapy dogs can now go ahead, thanks to funding from the National Lottery.

UK charity Dogs for Good received a grant of £314,022 for the Dementia Dog Project that the charity runs in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland.

The money will be used to pilot a series of ‘Dog Day’ community events and goal-oriented therapy intervention pilots in Scotland and England.

“This grant will allow the Dementia Dog Project team to test and pioneer new approaches to reduce social isolation and bring joy and meaning into the lives of people with dementia,” explained Peter Gorbing, chief executive of Dogs for Good.

“Through our work training dementia assistance dogs, we have seen the positive contribution that dogs can make to people’s lives. This boost in funding for the Dementia Dog project will help us to reach even more people living with dementia in the community.”

More than 500 people living with dementia are set to benefit from the Dog Days, with evaluation measuring well-being and economic benefits for both people with dementia and their carers.

Community dogs, supplied by Dogs for Good, will undergo their advance training at HMP Castle Huntly - an open prison near Dundee and the operational base for the Dementia Dogs Project. Men at the prison gain valuable employability skills and improve their well-being while helping to provide highly trained dogs to help people living with dementia.

In the community, pools of volunteers and their pet dogs will also be recruited and trained in trial areas, to help establish new training standards. They will also test the viability of delivery mechanisms on a larger future scale.

“This pilot project from Dogs for Good is an excellent example of how National Lottery funding can help groups test out new ideas or approaches,” said Maureen McGinn, chair of Big Lottery Fund, Scotland.

“There is evidence which shows that dementia assistance dogs can help people with dementia and their families live more fulfilling independent lives. So we are delighted to be able to fund some of this work in Scotland.”

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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.