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Runaway emu brought back home
Emus can grow to 1.9 metres in height, making them the second-tallest living bird.
The escapee roamed for a mile before he was found.

Jon and Laura Cardy were on their first holiday in years when they received a call saying that their emu had escaped.

Despite being locked in by the pet-sitter the evening before, one-year-old Rodney had leapt over a fence during the night and made his getaway.

Quickly returning to their home in rural Suffolk, Mr and Mrs Cardy set about trying to track down the missing bird, reporting his disappearance to the RSPCA, the RSPB, and the police.

Mr Cardy told the BBC: ”He's a big running bird and can cover a lot of ground quite quickly, so we didn't know where he might be.

"I think he might have been spooked by the storm overnight, and while he's very friendly, he's also very large and inquisitive - and he has a very large beak.

"Rodney is fascinated by anything shiny like rings and earrings and I was worried that if someone saw him coming towards them at high speed they might be a bit freaked out."

After hours of searching, Mr Cardy was sent a video in a local WhatsApp group about a peacock which had been found about a mile from where they lived. It wasn’t a peacock, it was Rodney.

Helped by a friend, Jon located his emu and brought him back home.

Rodney has been part of the Cardy household since he was two weeks old. Mr Cardy added: "He grew up in our kitchen and he is like one of the family.”

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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...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.