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Paraplegic man completes record attempt for assistance dog charity
Peter Smorthit is raising money for Canine Partners, which trains assistance dogs.
Peter Smorthit pushed his wheelchair from Lands’ End to John O’Groats.

A paraplegic man is raising money for an assistance dog charity as he aims to achieve a Guinness World Record.

Peter Smorthit, from London, has pushed his everyday wheelchair 967 miles from Lands’ End to John O’Groats. He could be the first person to achieve this in a non-racing wheelchair, and the first complete paraplegic to travel the journey.

Mr Smorthit is raising money for Canine Partners, a Midlands-based charity which trains assistance dogs and partners them with people with disabilities.

Assistance dogs trained by Canine Partners are able to provide people with essential support. The dogs are able to pick up and fetch items, open doors and help with dressing and undressing.

They are also able to load and unload a washing machine and can get help in the case of an emergency.

The charity resonates with Mr Smorthit, who became a T10 complete paraplegic after a severe accident 13 years ago. Since then, he has taken on marathons, triathlons and fundraising challenges in aid of charities like Canine Partners.

For this latest challenge, Mr Smorthit set off from Lands’ End on 12 July. While pulling necessary supplies in a trailer, he aimed to travel approximately 30-40 miles per day.

He completed his journey on 15 July, after 34 days on the road. It has yet to be confirmed by Guinness World Records whether this is a record-breaking feat.

Mr Smorthit said: "I'm doing this challenge to say a massive thank you to the charity Canine Partners for all the amazing and vital work they do. I'm hoping I can raise funds to enable them to continue to transform the lives of many more disabled people by partnering them with one of their amazing assistance dogs."

In a post on his Just Giving page after his attempt, he wrote: “Has been one hell of a journey and have had literally everything imaginable thrown at me but I’ve just continued to dig in and kept going.”

Rebecca Middleton, community fundraiser at Canine Partners, said: "It's incredible to see Peter taking on this monumental challenge in support of Canine Partners. We are immensely grateful for his efforts!"

Image © Canine Partners

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Webinar to explore history of KC breed registers

News Story 1
 A free webinar exploring the development of the Kennel Club's registration system and the evolution of closed breed registers has been announced.

Hosted by Dr Alison Skipper, veterinary and research advisor at the Kennel Club, the webinar will delve into the development of the registry and how the changing landscape of scientific knowledge has shaped breeding practices. It will also look at what this means for the future of pedigree dogs.

The session will culminate with a look at The Kennel Club's ongoing and future engagement in this area, with a chance for attendees to put forward their thoughts and questions for discussion.

This event takes place on Microsoft Teams on Tuesday, 10 June at 7pm. To learn more, visit events.teams.microsoft.com  

Click here for more...
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UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.