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BEVA Trust Award for Austrian Vet
New Award goes to Austrian Animal Transport Inspector.

Austrian Vet Dr Alexander Rabitsch has become the first recipient of the BEVA Trust / FVE Equine Transport Enforcement Award in recognition of his outstanding efforts in improving enforcement of current transport regulation.

Dr Rabitsch is an animal transport inspector in Carinthia in the southern Bundesland of Austria, where the main motorway from Northern and Central Europe passes through to Italy as well as to Slovenia and the Balkan countries. It is the main route for horses sourced for slaughter travelling from Eastern Europe to Italy.

For the past 13 years Dr Rabitsch has carried out random checks on transporters of live animals to assess compliance with the current Regulation (EC) 1/2005. He works in cooperation with the Bundespolizei (Federal Police), taking the necessary actions required to safeguard the welfare of the animals, supervising the unloading and the care of the animals in case of emergencies, and reporting to the courts.

Dr Rabitsch has also drawn on his considerable experience to lobby the European Parliament for the improvement of the Regulation governing the live transport industry. As author of a number of animal transport handbooks and checklists for transport professionals, he has made significant contribution to the training and education of those involved with the transport of live animals, such as farmers, drivers and vets.

BEVA Trust spokesperson, Dr Madeleine Campbell, said: “Alexander Rabitsch’s outstanding work to implement the existing Regulation governing the long-distance transport of horses makes him a very worthy recipient of the first BEVA Trust / FVE Equine Transport Enforcement Award. His special effort in communicating his experiences to raise consumer and politician awareness of the appalling, non-compliant conditions in which many equids and other animals are being transported is particularly commendable. Furthermore his ideas and tireless endeavour to further develop the current Regulation promise to help to improve conditions for transported horses and other animals in the future.”

The new award will be annual, and each recipient wins €1000.

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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. 

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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.