A US proposal to outlaw the trade in polar bear products has failed, it was announced yesterday. At the Cites meeting in Bangkok, 38 countries voted in favour of the US proposal to end the export of polar bear products from Canada, who are currently the only nation allowing this. 42 nations voted against the ban, and 46 abstained from voting. As a result the export of polar bear skins, teeth and paws from Canada will continue unabated.

The 2013 Vet Charity Challenge is to take place on Saturday 28 September at Warwickshire College. The event comprises teams of four taking part in walking, running, cycling and kayaking.

The 2012 Challenge raised £21,000 which was shared between three animal charities, SPANA, Pet Blood Bank and Hounds for Heroes. Interested teams are invited to register their interest through the website.

Four weeks after being found on the south coast of England coated in oil additive PIB, rescued birds are being released at sea in Dorset. Experts have already released 22 guillemots at Pett Level beach in East Sussex, and remaining birds are to be individually assessed, weighed and blood tested by vets before a decision is taken on which ones to release.

An investigation into the source of the substance has proved inconclusive, and it is now thought "unlikely" that the responsible ship will be traced. The RSPB has called for the substance to be reclassified and discharges outlawed.

A Tibetan mastiff has died at a Bejing animal hospital while undergoing a facelift. The surgery was performed at his owner's request, so that he could earn more money out of the dog.

Owner Mr Yu is now suing the hospital, which has performed cosmetic surgery on his dogs in the past in order to make their ears appear more erect.

The situation has appalled animal welfare activists, who say the hospital should never have agreed to perform the surgery for the dog farm owner.

Mr Yu said: "The skin of my dog's head was very flabby, so I wanted to cut part of his forehead and straighten the skin. If my dog looks better female dog owners will pay a higher price when they want to mate their dog with mine."

The British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) is calling nurses to nominate representatives to sit on their association's Council.

The BVNA is also encouraging its vet nurses to consider standing for election themselves.

Candidates are asked to have a strong commitment to promoting the ideals of the BVNA as well as the veterinary nursing profession and a willingness to devote time and effort to representing their fellow members.

Click here to nominate and vote. Results will be announced at the Annual General Meeting in October.

ULTRA Duramune - Introducing the very first 0.5ml canine vaccine line. This new product from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc (BIVI) reportedly offers improved patient comfort at 50 per cent less volume per dose. Innovative improvements to the manufacturing process include better purification processes and tighter manufacturing profiles. "ULTRA Duramune is like no other vaccine," says Dave Hustead of BIVI.