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Police dog awards open for nominations
The charity has begun its search for the UK's bravest canine police.

Thin Blue Paw Awards celebrate serving and retired police dogs. 

Nominations have opened for the Thin Blue Paw Awards, celebrating the lives of working and retired police dogs.

Run by the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, which provides support for serving and retired police dogs across the UK, the awards highlight the dogs' work and achievements, and anyone who knows an inspiration police dog is encouraged to submit their story for consideration.

Kieran Stanbridge, Thin Blue Paw trustee and event organiser, commented: “Our inaugural awards last year were a huge success and we received more than 100 nominations for incredible dogs.

“It was an honour to meet the winners and hear their inspiring stories of heroism and dedication and we can’t wait to see this year’s nominations although we know it’ll be very difficult to choose just five winners again.”

The award categories are:

  • Outstanding Bravery – for a serving police dog who has shown extraordinary bravery in the line of duty.
  • Lifesaver – to celebrate a serving police dog whose work was invaluable in a life-threatening incident, for example locating a vulnerable missing person.
  • Crime Fighting Duo – for a serving police dog and handler team who are constantly achieving outstanding operational results.
  • Rising Star – to celebrate the achievements of a newly licensed serving police dog.
  • Lifetime Achievement – to celebrate a retired police dog who made an exceptional difference during their service.


Encourage people to submit a nomination, Kieran said: “If you know a dog handler or police dog who has shown outstanding bravery, has committed their life to fighting crime and keeping the public safe, or has gone the extra mile in the line of duty, please nominate them today!”

Nominations can be made on the Thin Blue Paw website, and will be open until 1 July 2022. The winners, selected by a panel of judges, will receive their awards at a special ceremony in September, with plenty of canine and human guests invited.

 

Image (C) Thin Blue Paw

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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."