Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Cat sets up home at new Dogs Trust centre
Dog the Mog
Dog the Mog, the Dogs Trust's first feline resident.
Local tabby cat makes herself at home in new Dogs Trust centre in Essex 

Although it doesn't officially open until June 2, Dogs Trust Essex has already acquired its first resident - a tabby cat!

Affectionately known to staff as "Dog the Mog", the local feline seems to have chosen the £7.4 million rescue centre as a good place to set up home.

Maria Wickes, Dogs Trust Essex Rehoming Centre manager, commented:

“One morning this skinny kitty just arrived at the gates and she has made frequent visits ever since. It is ironic that our first unofficial resident would be a cat but we are all animal lovers and we adore her, even if she meows rather than barks at us each morning!”

Staff are hoping that someone from the public will recognise her if she is a pet or local farm cat.

“She is rather feral and isn’t keen on human company unless she is being fed. So, it could be that she is simply a feral cat. Please do get in touch with us if you recognise her. Otherwise, we are very happy to welcome her to Dogs Trust Essex.”

Animal lovers across the county are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first dogs to the state-of-the-art centre, once the building work has been completed.

Image courtesy of Dogs Trust

 

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.