The World Small Animal Veterinary Association has announced a number of volunteering opportunities in Asia this year.

Opportunities include caring for the many turtles which are released in temples in Bangkok, working at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang Province, providing care to stray dogs and cats that live in Thailand's temples and helping to neuter strays on Samed Island.

Another project is looking for volunteers to help support communities around Tacloban City in the Philippines, many of which are still in recovery from Hurricane Haiyan. For more information visit www.wsava.org

Cat's Protection has reported a 36 per cent rise in rehoming figures at one of its centres. Last year, the Newbury Adoption Centre managed to rehome 570 cats and kittens.

Centre manager Karen Clarke, said: "We are preparing to mark our 50th anniversary this year so we really hope to help as many cats as we can and celebrate another bumper year."

A rare British bulldog puppy, stolen from her home in October, has been reunited with her owner following an appeal by Surrey Police.

Lila, a rare lilac British bulldog, is worth a staggering £16,000. Officers were told that a man visited the breeder's home, having expressed an interest in buying the puppy, but after being given her to hold, he ran out, allegedly assaulting a relative of the dog breeder on his way.

Following a flurry of media coverage, Surrey Police received a number of calls with information about where Lila might be and, as a direct result of the appeal, she was found yesterday evening (January 15) at an address in the Wantage area of Oxfordshire.

A 29 year old woman has since been arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. Image (C) Surrey Police.

Two new DNA testing schemes have been approved for multi-drug resistance (MDR1) and Imerslund-Grasbeck syndrome (IGS) in border collies. The Kennel Club has approved the new tests following consultation with the Border Collie Breed Council.

According to the Border Collie Club of Great Britain, IGS causes changes to the hematopoietic system and irreparable damage to the brain and nervous system, as vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed from the intestine. In affected collies, the function of the MDR1 gene is impaired, meaning toxins can leak into major organs.

Nominations for Petplan's Veterinary Awards 2015 will close on 16 January 2015. The awards recognise members of the veterinary profession who have gone above and beyond in their daily roles.

Nominations for all categories, which include Vet of the Year, Vet Nurse of the Year, Practice of the Year, Practice Support Staff of the Year, and Practice Manager of the Year, can be made at www.petplanvet.co.uk/vetaward.

Wood Green, the Animals Charity, has announced that it helped to find 100 pets new homes over the festive season.

In the lead up to Christmas, the Animal Charity was being inundated with animals whose owners could no longer care for them. Its 100 kennels were at bursting point and it had just under 700 cats on its list waiting to come in to find new homes. The 100 animals re-homed from December 24 - December 31 include 29 dogs and 47 cats, as well as eight chickens, five rabbits and other small furries.

Wood Green's dog welfare manager Tracey Binham said: "We're over the moon to see so many people offer Wood Green residents forever homes in time for the new year - we would like to say a huge thank you to all their new owners - and hope people continue to be as caring and compassionate in the months to come."