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Elderly dog finds new home after losing 24 teeth
graham
"He's such a happy little dog now we've got him home and we're totally in love with him".

Newlyweds adopt 12-year-old dog instead of going on their honeymoon

A newly-married couple have chosen to adopt an elderly dog instead of going on their honeymoon. Twelve-year-old mutt Graham was so neglected he had to have 24 teeth removed, but his life has since been turned around.

After he was found dodging traffic on a busy main road in Essex, Graham was taken to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, where vet Steve Gosling quickly fell for his sweet and gentle nature.

Steve said he was appalled by the skinny dog's condition. As well as the worst case of tooth decay Steve had ever seen, Graham was suffering from a skin condition that caused most of his fur to fall out. He also has a heart murmur.

Under sedation, Steve removed 24 of Graham's rotten teeth, leaving him with only 11.

Despite his health problems and advanced age, newlyweds Stephanie and Luke Chadwick from Putney decided to adopt him after seeing him on Battersea's website.

Stephanie said: "We'd just got married and instead of going on honeymoon we decided to go to Battersea and get a dog. Graham's age and his health problems meant he wouldn't be the first dog most people might choose, but we thought it would be nice if we could give him his retirement home.

"He's such a happy little dog now we've got him home and we're totally in love with him".

Steve said Stephanie and Luke are the perfect owners for Graham. He said: "Graham is an elderly gentleman with a host of health problems, and sometimes it's not easy to rehome an unwell dog…

"I'm so pleased [Stephanie and Luke] came to meet him - but if they hadn't, Graham would have been coming home with me".

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.