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Votes open for new Purr Minister
purr minister
For the third year running, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is asking the public to vote for their favourite cat in Westminster.
Who has the best whiskers in Westminster?

The claws are out again this year as politically minded felines battle for the position of Purr Minister. For the third year running, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is asking the public to vote for their favourite cat in Westminster.

Cats belonging to seven of the country's politicians have made their way onto the shortlist and are vying for the top spot.

Battersea's head of catteries, Lindsay Quinlan, commented: "This year we’ve some really cat-tivating contenders and we urge the public to make their vote count by backing one of our political pussycats. It’s meow or never!"

Last year's winner was Billy, owned by the former Mid Dorset & North Poole MP, Dame Annette Brooke. She said: "We acquired Billy from a rescue centre in Dorset last July, and were so impressed with them.

"My family stay in touch with the centre, letting them know how Billy is getting on, and I would really encourage anyone looking for a new pet to rehome from a rescue."

Voting for the Purr Minister elections will run until midnight on Sunday, 6 March and the winner will be announced the following day. To view the 'Manifurstos' and place your vote, visit: www.battersea.org.uk/purrminister2016

This year's nominees are:
  • Collar, as nominated by Maria Caulfield, MP for Lewes, has had a tough background but has learnt how to live with humans again after she was found abandoned in a greenhouse in the snow two years ago.
  • Mango, as nominated by Simon Kirby, MP for Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven, has a purr-sonal statement that is of a high pedigree and will use all of his seven lives devoted to the claws.
  • Midnight, as nominated by Victoria Prentis, MP for Banbury, was found as a stray behind a factory but now has the confidence and friendliness needed to steal the Purr Ministerial cat crown. 
  • Pixie and Smudge, as nominated by Steve Reed, MP for Croydon North, are entering the competition as a purr, with one possessing clear leadership potential and the other a strong initiative to succeed.
  • Jackson, as nominated by Bill Esterson, MP for Sefton Central, is a true one nation cat and promises to be the best ambassador for cats and rescue centres in both the North and the South.
  • Charlie, as nominated by Neil Parish, MP for Tiverton and Honiton, will fight tooth and claw to bring down unempawment and under Claws 4 of the Bundescat is promising free cream for all.
  • Parsnip, as nominated by Mark Spencer, MP for Sherwood, is promising the return of free milk and a ban on all fur products – according to his Manifursto.

Image courtesy of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home


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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

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 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise 100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here

Click here for more...
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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will be hosting a webinar for veterinary professional on bluetongue on Thursday, 25 April 2024.

Topics covered will include the transmission cycle, pathology and pathogenesis, clinical signs (including signs seen in recent BTV-3 cases in the Netherlands), and control and prevention.

The session, which will take place from 6pm to 7.30pm, is part of Defra's 'Plan, Prevent and Protect' webinar series, which are hosted by policy officials, epidemiologists and veterinary professionals from Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency. The bluetongue session will also feature insights from experts from The Pirbright Institute.

Those attending will have the opportunity to ask questions. Places on the webinar can be booked online.