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Equines rescued from starvation in Italy
Image: The Donkey Sanctuary
Group of 100 equines left without food or shelter

Welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary has expressed outrage after a group of 100 equines, including many foals, was found starving in Italy. The animals belonged to an equine trader, who had left them without food or shelter in Colleferro, forty miles from Rome. The fields in which they were found contained the bodies and bones of countless horses and donkeys that had already starved to death.

The Donkey Sanctuary has confirmed it has rescued 15 donkeys, 9 mules and a hinny from the site, after the situation was reported to the authorities. All 15 of the donkeys are severely underweight, and many have painfully overgrown hooves. The Italian authorities are beginning legal proceedings against the owner and have reportedly asked The Donkey Sanctuary to care for the animals.

The charity have confirmed they are in the process of organising emergency shelter and veterinary care. They are also working in collaboration with the Italian Horse Protection Association to arrange care for the rescued horses. The Donkey Sanctuary operates an Italian sanctuary, Il Rifugio degli Asinelli, which is based near Turin. Once the prosecution case is complete, this sanctuary will become the permanent home of the group of rescued donkeys, mules and hinny.

Andrew Judge, manager of European operations at The Donkey Sanctuary reported from the scene: "Too many times on this trip I have been shocked with the cruelty we faced.

"Today I saw a large number of dead equines spread out on the land and buildings in front of me. It was shocking to think that these beautiful animals had just starved to death and been left where they fell for scavengers to eat them.

"I felt ashamed to be human today and angry at the indifferent people who see these problems every day but do nothing."

The donkey population in Italy is estimated to be 24,000. They are used largely for producing milk and meat, and as transport for rural families and tourists.

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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."