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RCVS and VN Councils elections get underway
Eligible veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses can place their vote either by post or online.
Votes must be cast online or by post by Friday 24 April

Voting for the 2020 RCVS and VN Councils elections has got underway, with eligible veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses able to vote either online or by postal ballot.

In a press release, RCVS Registrar Eleanor Ferguson, said: “With all that is happening currently, we are glad to say that we have been able to continue with business as usual as far as the RCVS and VN Councils elections are concerned, albeit with some minor delays on publishing the candidate videos.”

This year there are 13 candidates standing in the VN Council elections, including two existing VN Council members eligible for re-election and 11 members not currently on Council. They are as follows:

  • Samantha Anderson
  • Jessica Beckett
  • Kirsten Cavill
  • Rebecca Clark
  • Dorothy (Dot) Creighton
  • Lindsey Dodd
  • Emma Foreman
  • Racheal Marshall
  • Megan Oakey
  • Susannah Phillips
  • Matthew Rendle
  • Claire Roberts
  • Cathy Woodlands

In this year's RCVS Council election there are eight members standing, including three existing Council members and five members not currently on Council. They are:

  • John Davies
  • Dr Melissa Donald
  • Dr Tom Lonsdale
  • Professor Stephen May
  • Dr Kate Richards
  • Peter Robinson
  • Dr Richard Stephenson
  • Dr Kit Sturgess

Details of all the above candidates together with ballot papers have been posted to all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who are eligible to vote. Emails containing links to the secure election voting sites have also been sent to each member of the electorate by Civica Election Services.

Eleanor added: “It is very encouraging that, after a two-year absence, the VN Council elections have come back stronger with a field of 13 candidates, and we hope that this will translate into increased turnout. Likewise with the RCVS Council election, we hope that the year-on-year trend for increased turnout will continue.”

All votes, either by online or by post, must be cast by 5pm on Friday 24 April 2020. Contact details, biographies and manifestos for each candidate can be found at rcvs.org.uk/vetvote20 and rcvs.org.uk/vnvote20

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.