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Battersea star Bella dies aged 15
Missy and bella
Missy and Bella

Elderly star of Battersea's ITV show dies 50 weeks after being rehomed

A canine star of ITV's Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs has died aged 15, exactly 50 weeks after she was re-homed.

Last year, the Staffordshire bull terrier was taken to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home along with her nine-year-old daughter Missy after their owner became too ill to care for them.

The pair had such a close bond they could not bear to be parted and had to be rehomed together.

After appearing on the TV show in May last year, they found a new home in Scotland.

Sadly Bella was diagnosed with spondylitis, a painful condition that made it difficult for her to walk. Despite treatment, her condition got progressively worse and her owner Arlene had to make the difficult decision to say goodbye to her.

In a heartfelt tribute to Bella, Arlene said: "I only wish I had Bella all her life. It makes me sad to not know how her life was before and I hope she was happy there.

"I know she was happy here with us and we were very happy to have her. She was such a nosey character, into everything and always at my feet, following me from room to room.

"Lately when I went out she would lie with her nose on my slippers waiting for me to come home. We will miss her sorely as she got right into our hearts from the minute we got her home, and will always stay there."

Image courtesy of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home

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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.