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Pug seized and sold on eBay by officials in German town
Edda (not pictured) was seized and sold by city officials after her owners failed to pay taxes.
Dog taken from family who had not paid taxes 

A town in Germany has come under fierce criticism after officials seized a family’s pet pug and sold it on eBay, in a row over unpaid taxes.

German media reports suggest that officials in the town of Ahlen listed the dog, Edda (not pictured), on eBay for €750.

Edda’s new owner, a police officer named Michaela Jordan, told the Ahlener Tageblatt newspaper that the dog has medical problems that were not disclosed. Edda has undergone four operations since changing owners, including emergency surgery over Christmas.

Jordan is now seeking recompense for the original purchase price of the dog and medical bills of €1800.

A spokesman for the city, Frank Merschhaus, is quoted by BBC News as saying that the seizure of the dog was legal, but the incident will be fully investigated, as would the use of a private eBay account for selling a living creature.

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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.

 

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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.