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Feline pancytopenia research fund launched
"We recognise the pain and upset this illness has caused" - Huw Stacey, director of clinical services, Pets at Home.
The Pets at Home Group is offering £100k to interested researchers. 

UK pet care business Pets at Home has announced a £100k research fund for feline pancytopenia, a rare bone marrow condition where the number of blood cells rapidly decrease.

The fund has been launched following an unusual spike in cases in 2021, which saw 565 cases between June and October. 

During the feline pancytopenia spike, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) opened an investigation, but a definitive cause was unable to be found. 

Pets at Home has committed to finding a long-term solution to the condition, and will use the fund to provide financial support to academics, institutions and researchers seeking to understand feline pancytopenia, identify causes and improve treatment options. 

Huw Stacey, director of clinical services at The Pets at Home Vet Group, said: “For us, pets come first and always will. 

“We supported the FSA’s investigation throughout but flagged at the time that we believed further research was required into this disease and its causes. As a result, we are launching this £100,000 fund to accelerate research into feline pancytopenia and improve understanding within this area.  

“We recognise the pain and upset that this illness has caused, and our hearts go out to all the families whose cats suffered during the pancytopenia outbreak last year.”

“We hope that this funding will facilitate important research and lead to an improved understanding of this disease, supporting vets in providing pets and their owners with the best possible care and minimising and informing responses to any future outbreaks,” added Dr Karen Humm, associate professor in Transfusion Medicine and Emergency and Critical Care at the Royal Veterinary College. 

The research fund is now open for applications until 31 May 2022, and any interested parties should contact pcpgrant@petsathome.co.uk for further information. 

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.