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Appeal to raise funds for working animals in Haiti
Working horses, donkeys and mules are an essential method of transportation for rural communities in Haiti.

UK government will match every donation 

An ambitious match-funded appeal is hoping to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to improve the welfare of working animals in rural Haiti.

Equine charity World Horse Welfare launched the appeal to raise more than £150,000, which will be doubled by the UK government. Funds raised will help to provide training for communities, allowing them to improve welfare whilst strengthening their livelihoods.

Working horses, donkeys and mules are an essential method of transportation for rural communities in Haiti, carrying produce to be sold at markets, ferrying water for livestock and taking children to school.

The charity’s Haitian partner, the Fondation Quatre Pattes will work in 10 towns around Port-Au-Prince, sharing knowledge with horse owning communities and providing training in saddlery, horse care and veterinary treatment. The project will not only support owners in improving their animals’ health, but will also help them to generate income opportunities.

World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers said: “Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world that is still trying to recover from the devastating earthquake in 2010.

"Despite this there is great appetite within communities in rural Haiti to access new skills and knowledge – and empowering local people through training in horse care, saddlery and veterinary treatment not only improves the welfare of their working animals but boosts their independence too.

The government will match every donation received until 17 September. Donations can be made via World Horse Welfare’s website.

Image © World Horse Welfare

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

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Bluetongue RZ extended across Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced an extension to a Bluetongue Restricted Zone that is in place in south-west Scotland.

From 3 October, the Restricted Zone will be extended to cover the whole of Scotland. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) says this is in response to further disease spread, as well as simplify trading conditions ahead of the autumn.

Since the whole country will share a disease status, it will no longer be necessary to have a movement license to move susceptible livestock around the country. Restrictions on germinal products remain.

As of 1 October 2026, there were 1,979 cases of BTV-3 in England, 389 cases in Wales and 40 cases in Scotland.