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Dog owners complain over promotional chocolate
A number of dogs ate the free Green & Black’s chocolate bar that was sent in the post. (stock photo)
Free bar sent out to Sainsbury’s customers

Pet owners have complained to Sainsbury’s after some dogs ate a free Green & Black’s chocolate bar that was sent in the post to reward card holders.

The supermarket chain said it is investigating the situation “as a matter of urgency”. It has so far received five complaints, but these have not all been verified.

Dog owner Sarah Hayward rushed her cocker spaniel Jarvis to the vet after he ate the promotional chocolate while she was at work.

“My parents, who came home to let the dogs out at lunchtime, found the empty packet on his bed - and obviously they were trying to work out what it was initially,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“They realised it was chocolate and the second they called the vet they were told to rush him straight in. He was put on various drips to flush fluids down him to try and induce him to be sick.”

Sammy Taylor, from Kent, said on Facebook that she was “furious” with Sainsbury’s after her puppy ate the chocolate and had to receive veterinary treatment.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We’re extremely sorry for the distress this has caused. We know chocolate is unsafe for pets to eat and that’s why we had measures in place to safeguard against pet owners receiving this promotion. We are urgently investigating what went wrong.”

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VMD invites students to apply for EMS placement

News Story 1
 The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is inviting applications from veterinary students to attend a one-week extramural studies (EMS) placement in July 2026.

Students in their clinical years of study have until 28 February to apply for the placement, which takes place at the VMD's offices in Addlestone, Surrey, from 6-10 July 2026.

Through a mixture of lectures and workshops, the placement will explore how veterinary medicines are authorised, non-clinical career opportunities, and other important aspects of the VMD's work.  

Click here for more...
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Forming part of a wider, collaborative initiative, the results will help identify the types of data available so that challenges with data collection can be better understood and addressed.

Anyone working in the UK farming sector, including vets and farmers,is encouraged to complete the survey, which is available at app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk