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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 19th January 2022
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Two thousand hamsters in Hong Kong to be culled
The measures have sparked backlash from animal rights campaigners and pet lovers.
The animals have been ordered to be euthanised following an outbreak of COVID-19.

Authorities in Hong Kong ordered 2,000 hamsters to be culled yesterday (18 January), after 11 hamsters in a pet shop tested positive for COVID-19.

After a worker at the Little Boss pet shop in Causeway Bay tested positive for the Delta variant of the virus, the animals were tested, and officials say that 11 hamsters were found to be infected. 

As a result of China's zero-tolerance COVID policy, Hong Kong has ordered approximately 2,000 hamsters to be put down, and has stopped imports and sales of the rodents. 

People who have brought a hamster from the Little Boss pet shop since 22 December 2021 have been ordered to hand over their pet to be euthanised. 

There has been a backlash from animal rights campaigners and pet owners against the measures. Hong Kong's local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals called the action 'drastic' in a statement issued on Facebook. 

The organisation commented: “The SPCA is shocked and concerned over the recent government announcement on the handling of over 2,000 small animals, which did not take animal welfare and the human-animal bond into consideration. 

“The SPCA sincerely hopes the AFCD will not take any further drastic action before reviewing its approach. The SPCA will urgently liaise with the AFCD to discuss alternative approaches. 

“We urge pet owners not to panic or abandon their pets.” 

A petition on change.org, entitled 'Stop the Government from Wrongfully Euthanising Little Boss' Small Pets', has reached over 26,000 signatures so far, with the number of signatories continuing to increase steadily. 

Members of a group named 'Hong Kong the Cute Hamster Group' on the Telegram social media app have been contacted by almost 3,000 volunteers willing to temporarily take care of unwanted animals, as reported by reuters. 

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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
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.