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Battersea to host festive photo shoot
festive photo shoot
Santa with former Battersea dogs at Old Windsor.

Event will raise money for the 9,000 homeless residents the charity cares for each year

Dog owners looking for the perfect Christmas gift should look no further than Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in Old Windsor, who are inviting owners and their four-legged friends to take part in a Christmas photo shoot.

At the Berkshire rescue centre, christmassy canines and their owners will be able to cosy up with Santa Claus in his sleigh and take home a personalised photo.

The photo shoot forms part of the rescue centre's Santa Paws event, where there will be mince pies, Christmas cards and dog treats on sale to raise money for the 9,000 homeless residents the charity cares for each year.

Battersea's Old Windsor centre manager, Kaye Mughal, said: "We are so excited to welcome lots of dogs and their families to our centre to make a Christmas memory at Battersea and help raise money for the unfortunate dogs and cats that will not be spending Christmas in a loving, permanent home this year. Everyone is welcome to join us and we hope it will be a great event where pets can have their photo taken with the one and only Santa Paws."

One dog who will be spending Christmas in foster care is two-year-old Biscuit, who arrived at the centre as a stray in February 2013. On average, dogs spend just under 30 days waiting for a home, but Biscuit has now been in Battersea's care for 650 days.

Kate Mughal added: "To have waited 650 days for a new home must be very frustrating for poor Biscuit, and as its coming up to Christmas we want to make this his best Christmas yet."

The Santa Paws event takes place on Sunday, December 7 from 10.30 - 3.30pm. For more information visit www.battersea.org.uk

Image (C) Battersea Dogs & 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.