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Horses trapped by floods moved to safety
60 horses left stranded by flood water

A herd of 60 horses in Gloucester, trapped by flood water, were moved to safe ground after concerns were raised over their welfare by a group on the social networking site Twitter.

The group of horse lovers known as Friends of the Causeway Horses visited the site to care for the horses; feeding them hay, keeping them warm and giving them clean drinking water.

Nicky Turner-Sterling, one of the volunteers, said: "We're all animal lovers and didn't want to see them suffer."

The owners managed to move most of the animals to safety. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) was also involved in the rescue; giving advice and helping the owners move the remaining six horses off the site.

Chief inspector with the RSPCA, Lee Hopgood, said: "They moved in three weeks before the floods started.

"I don't think they were particularly well briefed by the people who rented the land to them but I have said to them they should have done the research before moving 60 horses on to this farm."

The RSPCA were on hand to check the horses over. The majority were found to be okay, considering the conditions they had been living in; however, three foals which were stranded were found to be suffering from salmonella and had to be put down.

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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.