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SRUC welcomes first veterinary degree students
Abbi Harcus is one of 45 students to start SRUC's new degree.
More than half the intake of students were from rural or remote Scottish locations.

Scotland’s Rural College’s (SRUC's) School of Veterinary Medicine has welcomed the first students to its new Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSci) programme.

SRUC, which is Scotland’s first new veterinary school in over 150 years, hopes it will provide new opportunities for students in rural or remote locations.

The degree fulfils part of the veterinary school’s promise to widen access to the sector. It will focus on training Scottish, Irish and UK-domiciled students from rural backgrounds, who understand how life is in remote and rural communities.

The veterinary school is also built on a tertiary model and provides opportunities for students to progress from HND students to a veterinary degree programme. It was opened after SRUC gained Taught Degree Awarding Powers.

One student who has benefitted from SRUC’s model is Abbi Harcus.

Ms Harcus is from rural East Ayrshire and, earlier this year, completed a HND in Rural Animal Health at SRUC. She is now one of 45 students to start the School of Veterinary Medicine’s new degree programme.

Ms Harcus said: “When I finish, I want to go into practice as soon as I can, and I’ll definitely stay in Scotland. There are so many rural areas that struggle to keep vets, staying in the industry is tough. I’m ready for it, and I think things are going to start changing soon.

“Everything I’ve learned with my HND will be really important when I finish and go into practice, it’s been the best start I could have had. Everything has just worked out so well.”

Caroline Argo, a professor who oversaw the development of the degree, said: “It is now recognised that the UK veterinary profession is failing to achieve self-sufficiency in generating and retaining homegrown talent. This has serious ramifications for key sectors of the profession that are central to Scotland’s ambitions, economy and the sustainability of our rural communities.

“By aligning the attitudes and abilities of our veterinary students more directly with the needs of the Scottish profession, we hope to train the general practitioners that are so essential for our food sector and mixed practices.”

Image © SRUC

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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.