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RCVS and VN Council election results announced
Dr Zara Kennedy has been elected to the RCVS Council.
Three vets and two vet nurses were elected to the councils.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has named the newly elected members to both RCVS Council and the RCVS Veterinary Nurses (VN) Council.

The election saw 15 veterinary surgeon candidates stand for three positions on the RCVS Council, and three veterinary nurses standing for two positions on the VN Council.

Dr Zara Kennedy MRCVS (2,264 votes), Dr Sinead Bennett MRCVS (1,796)  and Professor David Barrett FRCVS (1,747) have been elected to the RCVS Council, where they will sit for a four-year term. Their terms will start officially at the RCVS Annual General Meeting on Friday, 5 July 2024.

The Annual General Meeting will also see Professor Christopher Loughrey FRCVS replace Professor James Wood FRCVS as a Veterinary Schools Council appointee. Prof Loughrey is a professor of experimental cardiology at the University of Glasgow.

The RCVS council election received a turnout of 19.7 per cent (7,383 veterinary surgeons), an increase on the 16.7 per cent turnout in 2023.

This year’s VN election was for two council members to sit three-year terms. Registered veterinary nurses Kirsty Young (995 votes) and Susan Howarth (923) will also begin their terms in council at RCVS Annual General Meeting.

There was a decline in turnout for the VN council election this year, with just 7.4 per cent (1,710) of those eligible casting their votes compared to 8.8 per cent last year.

RCVS and VN Council elections are conducted online each year, with secure links and reminders sent to eligible voters throughout the voting period.

The RCVS Council is made up of 24 members, with 13 of these members appointed through a direct election. RCVS Council members can serve three consecutive four-year terms, before they must take a two-year break.

The VN Council consists of 14 members, of which six are elected. VN Council members also have a three-term limit.

Image © RCVS

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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. 

Click here for more...
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.