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Cull petition reaches 100,000 signatures
Yet farming minister insists culls will still go ahead

Despite growing opposition from the public, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are insisting the imminent badger cull will still take place.

An e-petition, launched by the Stop the Cull campaign, reached 100,000 signatures in a record time of two weeks on Monday (24 September). This means the issue can now be considered for debate in the House of Commons.

The six-week pilot cull to help eradicate bovine Tb, spread by badgers, is currently set to take place in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset by the end of next month. Last week Natural England issued their first culling licence.

Despite numerous legal challenges, Farming Minister David Heath has insisted the cull will still go ahead.

"I don't think I should [revise the policy] because I am persuaded by the science," he said. "The trials are trials. They will tell whether the cull can be done in a safe, effective and humane way."

Just one of the organisations urging the government to abandon the cull and vaccinate badgers instead is the RSPCA.
 
“This campaign is gathering an incredible momentum," said RSPCA Chief Executive, Gavin Grant. "The speed of this growth shows the scale of public interest in this issue - the UK Government must now listen to what the public are saying and give this matter some parliamentary time. Let's cure not kill."

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."