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RAW veterinary resource pack released
RAW is taking place from 26-30 June 2023.
Vets urged to get involved to educate owners about welfare needs of rabbits.

A free Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) resource pack is now available for veterinary practices to download. It includes rabbit care guides, health logs, social media help guides and printable colouring sheets to enable practices to organise their own events during the week.

RAW is taking place from 26-30 June and its organisers are urging practices to get involved. This year’s theme is ‘Neutering: Protect and Prevent’. 

With approximately 80 per cent of unneutered female rabbits developing cancer of the womb by the age of five, the theme aims to educate owners that neutering helps rabbits to live longer, healthier lives. 

RAW is being organised by Burgess Pet Care along with a number of experts, including the RSPCA, Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund, Woodgreen Pets Charity, Blue Cross and Raystede.

Dr Suzanne Moyes, deputy managing director at Burgess Pet Care said: “We know that the vet community plays an important role in ensuring that owners have access to the right information about rabbits’ welfare needs, which is why we are urging as many practices as possible to support RAW. You can either sign up to receive one of our limited number of free RAW vet packs in hard copy, or you can download a free RAW vet pack. Both are full of resources including rabbit care guides, health logs and printable posters, so that you can put together your own campaign.”

One of the veterinary practices that is getting involved wih RAW is offering rabbit owners discounts on vaccines and neutering, free nurse consultations, a forage walk, informative displays and lots of information about rabbits on its social media channels. 

Dr Moyes added: “Given the increase in demand for rabbit ownership in the UK in recent years, it is really important that we educate as many owners as possible, so that these wonderful creatures can live the life they deserve, in the right environment. 

“Working with our charity partners the RSPCA, Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF), Woodgreen Pets Charity, Blue Cross, and Raystede, we want to ensure that RAW is a great success and that we continue to improve the welfare of rabbits across the country.”

During the week there will be a wealth of activities designed to raise awareness of neutering and its benefits, including veterinary blogs, videos and case studies, that will be shared on the RAW Facebook and Instagram pages.

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
Germany livestock import ban lifted

The UK government has amended its ban on the import of livestock, meat and dairy products from Germany.

Defra said the decision follows 'rigorous technical assessment' of the measures applied and the current situation. "If the situation changes, we will not hesitate to take necessary action in response to the FMD outbreaks in the European Union to protect our domestic biosecurity," it said.

The ban was implemented in January following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) near Berlin. Personal imports of meat, milk and dairy products will remain in place at a country level.