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SPANA launches road traffic accidents appeal
“The majority of working animals involved in road traffic accidents do not survive” – Anna Bowker.
Charity highlights plight of working animals on busy roads.

The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA) has launched an appeal to help working animals at risk of being involved in road traffic accidents.

In the low-income countries where the charity works, it is common for animals such as donkeys to work on roads alongside cars and trucks. When accidents occur, they are often fatal for the animal involved.

With its appeal, launched on 20 June, SPANA hopes to raise funds to provide reflective collars and harnesses to improve the visibility of working animals and help keep them safer on roads. The charity also needs donations to keep running its mobile clinics and centres which provide emergency care to injured animals.

Last year, SPNA provided veterinary care and support to 336,018 working animals around the world, as well as providing training in animal care to 75,239 owners of working animals.

Anna Bowker, SPANA veterinary advisor. said: “The majority of working animals involved in road traffic accidents do not survive, and those that do are often left facing serious and painful injuries. Yet simple solutions can help prevent road traffic accidents.

“Reflective collars and harnesses are low-cost ways to make working animals visible when walking on, or near, busy roads. Made from locally available materials, these collars can help prevent working animals from being hit by vehicles.
 
“For the unfortunate animals that do become injured in traffic accidents, SPANA’s mobile clinics can provide the lifesaving treatment they need, while surgery or long stays in our centres for ongoing after care may be needed to make a full recovery.”

More details about SPANA’s appeal can be found on the charity’s website.

Image © SPANA

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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.

 

Click here for more...
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.