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Stars unite for Animal Hero Awards
Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais with Dr Brian May and RSPCA inspector Kate Fletcher.

Ricky Gervais honoured for outstanding contribution to animal welfare

Comedian Ricky Gervais has been honoured by the RSPCA for his outstanding contribution to animal welfare at a glittering awards ceremony in London.

Held on Wednesday evening (21 October), the Animal Hero Awards celebrate the most inspiring examples of bravery, dedication and resilience in the animal world.

Ricky - a Bafta-award winning director, actor and writer -  has used social media to draw attention to several animal welfare campaigns this year to over 10 million of his followers.  These included the campaign to repeal the Hunting Act and the RSPCA's Scrap the Puppy Trade campaign, which pushed to introduce laws to regulate the sale of puppies in England and Wales.

On accepting his award, presented by Queen's Brian May, Ricky said: “I think the RSPCA are great, they are the people on the frontline they are the people who are tackling it.”

He praised RSPCA inspectors, saying: “Those people are amazing, they are an emergency service, they are fantastic.”

Ricky added: “I think it is one of the greatest privileges of freedom of speech, to use your voice for those who don’t have one. I think people who are kind to animals are the loveliest people.”

This is the third year for the Animal Hero Awards, hosted in conjunction with the RSPCA, Daily Mirror and Bayer pharmaceuticals.

Other worthy winners on the night included Victoria Bryceson, who won Animal Enthusiast of the Year for dedicating her life to helping animals in Borneo.

RSPCA Superstar of the Year went to Julie Bedford, a pet behavioural expert who has put together two courses for RSPCA staff to help dogs showing signs of aggression in RSPCA care.

TV vet Marc Abraham was awarded Vet of the Year and Celia Hammond, former model turned animal welfare campaigner, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Speaking at the ceremony RSPCA interim chief executive David Canavan said: "The Animal Hero Awards is a fantastic event and one that the RSPCA are very proud to be part of.

"I was honoured to hear all the animal heroes' stories. Having an event dedicated to the positive power of animals really shows the impact they have on our lives and highlights the wonderful work of the people who help and heal them." 

Image (C) RSPCA

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
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RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."