Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Gaza zoo rescue mission postponed
FOUR PAWS aims to resume the rescue mission once the situation has improved.

Borders closed owing to violent escalations

Plans to evacuate 40 animals from Gaza's most notorious zoo have been postponed due to ongoing unrest.

Veterinary charity FOUR PAWS had planned to rescue the animals from Rafah Zoo in March and transfer them to sanctuaries in Jordan and South Africa. But owing to violent escalations on the Gaza strip, the borders have been closed, preventing the team from entering the country.

The charity aims to resume the rescue mission once the situation has improved. Until then, locals inside the Gaza borders are lending their support by feeding the animals.

FOUR PAWS veterinary surgeon and head of mission Dr Amir Khalil said: “Due to the closed borders, it was impossible for our team to enter Gaza. However, we are keeping an eye on the situation and the rescue will take place once the security situation has stabilised.

“We remain on standby and are ready to go through with the rescue at any time. No matter how long we have to wait, we will not give up on the animals of Rafah Zoo”.

Rafah Zoo attracted worldwide attention in January when it emerged that four lion cubs had frozen to death due to harsh weather and poor keeping conditions. A few weeks later a lioness was brutally declawed with a set of garden shears.

The zoo opened on the Egyptian border in 1999 and, from there, wild animals are repeatedly smuggled through underground tunnels to and from Gaza. Since the zoo opened, many of the animals have died in rocket attacks and war battles.

At the time of writing, a petition calling for the zoo’s closure had reached more than 153,000 signatures.

Image (C) FOUR PAWS

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.