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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 13th December 2012
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Magnetic-collar moggy steals keys
Image: Stian Alexander
Neighbours discover key-stealing culprit

A nine-year-old cat has been stealing keys from her neighbours, after being fitted with a magnetic collar.

Milo the tabby cat was fitted with a magnetic collar that operates with a magnetic cat flap, in order to stop other cats entering her home and eating her food.

However, in the past five weeks Milo has managed to pick up more than 20 sets of house and car keys, as she goes into her neighbours houses via their cat flaps.

Milo was caught red-pawed when her owner, 27-year-old Kirsten Alexander, spotted her coming through the cat flap dangling the keys from her collar.

"I had no idea what she was getting up to all day when I was at work," said Miss Alexander. "Obviously she likes roaming around and sneaking into other people's homes and it just so happens that her magnetic collar kept picking up people's spare keys.

"When I saw her coming through the cat flap with a set of keys round her neck I thought 'poor thing' because her neck was really weighed down, and then it dawned on me what was happening,” she said.

Miss Alexander found 12 sets of keys in her back garden, eight dotted around her home and six more in neighbours gardens that had dropped off Milo's collar.

"I've given all the keys back and luckily neighbours have seen the funny side of it," added Miss Alexander, who also found nails, pins, screws and bolts scattered around her home.

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Antibiotic Amnesty survey opens

News Story 1
 The Responsible Use of Medicines Alliance - Companion Animal and Equine (RUMA - CA&E) has launched a survey which seeks to measure the success of this year's Antibiotic Amnesty campaign.

Its results will help the group to calculate how many unused or out-of-date antibiotics were returned as part of the campaign throughout November. Practices are also asked how they engaged with clients to raise awareness of the issue.

Participating practices can enter a prize draw to win up to 100 in vouchers for taking part. Further prizes from BSAVA and Webinar Vet will be available for practices with the best input.

The survey takes a few minutes to complete and will be running throughout December. It can be accessed via this link. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue cases lead to restricted zone extension

Following the detection of new cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3), the restricted zone has been extended to include additional parts of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and North Yorkshire, as well as Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and part of Dorset.

The zone now covers 28 counties and unitary authorities in England. As of 16 December, 185 cases of BTV-3 have been confirmed in England and Wales during the current vector period.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Suspected cases must be reported on 03000 200 301 in England or 03003 038 268 in Wales. In Scotland, suspected cases should be reported to the local field services office. Suspected cases in Northern Ireland should be reported to the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or by contacting the local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.

A map of the area where movement restrictions apply can be found here.