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Rabbit Awareness Week goes virtual
Rabbit Awareness Week 2020 aims to educate owners about the five key welfare needs.

Organisers have announced a packed programme of digital events.
 
Organisers behind Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) have announced an exciting line up of digital events to improve the health and welfare of rabbits in the UK.

The annual RAW campaign aims to reach, educate and inform rabbit owners about the five key welfare needs of rabbits and encourage them to join in the conversation.

Normally organisations and individuals host physical events which, due to COVID-19, will not be possible this year. Instead, the RAW team is putting together a packed programme of digital workshops, live Q&As, virtual tours and educational videos – all of which will be shared online.

This year's campaign takes place over two weeks (10 – 23 August), and rabbit owners, animal lovers and anyone else interested in learning more about rabbit welfare is encouraged to get involved in the campaign via the official website and social media pages.

Campaign organiser Holly Ackroyd said: “Vets have always played an active, and absolutely vital, part of Rabbit Awareness Week but the coronavirus pandemic means we’ve had to get a bit more creative to make sure we can drive and facilitate their involvement this year’s campaign. We’re delighted that the RAW partners and our supporting vets will once again be lending their support to the campaign by delivering online content that promises to both entertain and educate UK owners, and ‘would-be’ owners of these amazing animals.
 
“Despite the current challenges, we’re confident this year’s campaign will build on previous years to be our biggest RAW campaign yet. As one of the UK’s most misunderstood pets, it’s so important that we continue to raise awareness about the welfare needs of rabbits. We’ve invested significantly into the creation of new content and collateral on all of these needs and have extended the length of the campaign to ensure that we comprehensively shine a light of them all.”

More details about RAW 2020 are expected in the coming weeks.

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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.