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Stray snake reports expected to rise
"Snakes are excellent escape artists and will take the opportunity of a gap in an enclosure door, or a loose-fitting lid to make a break for it" - Evie Button, RSPCA.

Owners urged to be extra vigilant as the weather warms up.

The RSPCA is warning snake owners to be extra-vigilant this summer after a ‘python’ was rescued from a chip shop in Greenwich.

When RSPCA animal rescue officer Adam Tasker arrived, he identified the stray snake as a juvenile corn snake. As there were lots of flats above the shop, he suspected that it was likely to be an escaped pet and was able to safely return it to his owner. 

Now, with more warm weather on the way, the charity is bracing itself for a rise in similar snake-related incidents.

RSPCA senior scientific officer Evie Button said: “Snakes are excellent escape artists and will take the opportunity of a gap in an enclosure door, or a loose-fitting lid to make a break for it.

“The RSPCA urges all pet snake owners to be extra vigilant at this time of year, invest in an enclosure suitable for the particular species and make sure that enclosure is kept secure - and locked if necessary - when unattended.”

In 2023, the RSPCA received 982 reports of stray snakes, with the highest number coming in during the summer months. The charity is also keen to help members of the public differentiate between active snakes, which may have escaped from their owner or have been abandoned.
 
Evie continued: “We received more than 907,000 calls to our emergency line in 2024, averaging 75,650 calls per month or one call every 32 seconds. Our frontline officers are flat out trying to rescue animals that may be in life-threatening situations. So a few extra minutes checking that your snake is secure could help save our officers’ time and allow them to save an animal that’s in danger.”

Image (C) RSPCA.

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Webinar to explore AMR in vet dentistry

News Story 1
 The WSAVA has invited veterinary professionals to a webinar on responsible antibiotic usage in dentistry.

On 19 November 2025, at 1am, Dr J Scott Weese and Dr Brooke Niemiec will share the latest advice for antimicrobial use. They will present research on oral bacterology, and explain how attendees can choose appropriate antibiotics.

The session will cover pre-, intra- and post-operative guidelines, with recommendations for various pathologies.

The webinar is designed to support veterinary professionals to make informed decisions and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Attendees can register here

Click here for more...
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Dechra launches checklist for veterinary sustainability

Global animal health specialist Dechra has announced the world's first Veterinary Green Theatre Checklist (VGTC) to help make surgery more sustainable.

Endorsed by leading veterinary organisations, including the BEVA, BVNA and RCVS Knowledge, the checklist is designed to reduce the environmental footprint of veterinary care, while supporting better animal health outcomes.

The checklist was launched at the World Congress of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia in Paris and will be followed by an internal training and awareness campaign. For more information, visit dechra.com