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Amazon driver found guilty of stealing dog
An app that tracked the driver’s steps showed Pislea wandering around Mr Guttield’s home.

Levi Pislea ordered to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work

An Amazon driver who stole a dog when he was making a delivery in Buckinghamshire has been given a 12-month community order.

According to BBC News, Levi Pislea, 22, was found guilty of theft by magistrates at High Wycombe and has been ordered to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work.

Pislea was delivering dog food when he snatched miniature schnauzer Wilma in April 2018.
Wilma's owner Richard Guttfield spent four hours and nights searching for her, before emailing the founder of Amazon in desperation.

Amazon tracked down the driver and found that he was employed by FastUK, who are contracted to deliver Amazon parcels.

When questioned by FastUK, Pislea denied going anywhere near the owner’s garden or seeing a dog. An app that tracked the driver’s steps, however, showed Pislea wandering around Mr Guttfield’s home.

When FastUK later visited Pislea’s property he handed over the dog.

In court, Pislea said that he “did not notice any dog” and that he had found the dog wandering on the road. He added that he was worried about the dog’s safety so he took it home and had intended to hand it to the police.

Irvin Thobourne, chairman of the magistrates' bench, said: "You took no steps to make inquiries about the owner of dog. You knew a family were looking for the dog.

"This was very distressing for the owner and his family. We have heard the dog was also distressed. It was a very serious offence.”

 

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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.