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Suffolk boy wins prestigious Kennel Club Award
Pictured: (Left to right) Gerald King, Lynette Garstang, Lewis Steven Garstang and Vanessa McAlpine.

Lewis Steven Garstang was presented with the award for personal achievement in dog training. 

A 12 year old boy from Suffolk has won the Young Kennel Club (YKC) Young Person of the Year Award at Discover Dogs.

Lewis Steven Garstang, from Haverhill, took on the training and running of his father's dogs in agility after his father sadly passed away in 2018.

Rosie and Willow, two rescue dogs with vastly different temperaments, have been trained by Lewis, and he has built a significant bond with both of them. 

The award, given annually to one young person who has done notable work in dog activities, such as volunteering and fundraising for dog charities, organising dog activities in their local area, or helping others through training and mentoring, is presented by Ed and Cindy McAlpine in memory of their late son Shaun, who had achieved success as a dog handler. 

Vanessa McAlpine, events and youth development executive at The Kennel Club, commented on the award: “Congratulations to Lewis for winning this year’s YKC Young Person of the Year award. He is a well-deserved winner and is a real inspiration to many other young dog lovers around the UK.

“Well done to our other nine finalists and to all of our other YKC members who were nominated this year. They truly deserve the recognition for all of their hard work, time and dedication that they put into helping the lives of dogs.”

 

Image (C) The Kennel Club

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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
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."