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Final hours of vet management congress
VPMA/SPVS joint congress comes to a close

The first ever VPMA/SPVS Veterinary Business & Management Congress is coming to an end, as the hundreds of delegates attend their last lectures and the many exhibitors begin to pack away their stands.

The event, held at the Heythrop Park Resort in Oxfordshire, has provided its attendees with various networking opportunities, allowing practice managers and owners to exchange their experiences and advice, as well as a selection of lectures for continuing professional development (CPD).

More than 300 delegates have also been able to meet representatives from numerous businesses, to discuss services and put faces to the names heard on a daily basis within the veterinary industry.

Both days have been packed with back-to-back lecture streams, sharing valuable information and discussing important topics. The host of talented speakers included Karen Felsted, Sharon Wesselby and Helen Frewin.

Friday evening also provided the opportunity to grill the BVA, RCVS, VMPA and SPVS presidents, as well as the CEO of NOAH in a Q&A session. The issues discussed included decoupling antimicrobials, the new vet school in Surrey, and whether the organisations could and should be working closer together.

After a very lively banquet and singalong, followed by a short awards ceremony, congress attendees were able to let their hair down at the casino and disco, before waking up to day two's presidential handover.

Pauline Graham, VPMA president for 2012, talked of the work she has done and what the association has achieved over the last year. She then welcomed Helen Sanderson to her new presidential role and congratulated her with a bouquet of flowers.

Once given her new title, Helen proceeded to explain her hopes for the year ahead, adding that this year's joint vet management congress has been a great success.

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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.