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Vet completes 250 mile walk for International Cat Care
Race for Cats
Ed in full stride on his 'Race for Cats'
Seventy-four-year-old Ed has a long history of fundraising for charities

To celebrate 50 years in practice, Ed Shillabeer, a vet from the Harwell Veterinary Group, completed the equivalent of 10 marathons in a week by race walking over 250 miles from his home town in Plymouth, to the RCVS in London, to raise funds for International Cat Care.

The 'Race for Cats' started in Plymouth on June 28 and was completed, despite a sprained ankle, at the RCVS on July 4.

Ed's route included Exeter, Taunton, Langford, the International Cat Care headquarters in Tisbury, Kingsclere and finished in London. He called into a number of supporting veterinary practices along the way.

Seventy-four-year-old Ed, a life member of International Cat Care, has a long history of fundraising for charities.

Claire Bessant, chief executive of International Cat Care said: "We very much appreciate the huge effort Ed has made to raise funds for our work that will improve the lives of cats around the world. Many thanks also to everyone who has supported our Race for Cats."

On completing the race, Ed said: "It was a wonderful week of race walking and i hope it will benefit felines everywhere through the work of International Cat Care. Thanks to all who helped me in any way. Give, give, give!"

International Cat Care is a charity founded in 1958 whose aim is to ensure that all cats, owned and unowned, are treated with care, compassion and understanding. For more information on the work of the charity, visit www.icatcare.org

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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.