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Missing cat found at animal rescue conference
The owners feared they would never see their cat again.
Attendees used microchip to track down owner.

A missing cat has been found after wandering into the Association of Dog and Cat Homes conference and plonking himself down on an attendee from Cats Protection.

Beni Benstead, manager of Cats Protection’s Tyneside Adoption Centre, was sat down during a break in proceedings when the black and white cat decided to sit on her lap.

Staff at the Telford International Centre informed Beni and the other attendees that the cat had been seen around the venue for some time. Sallie Conroy, rehoming supervisor at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Bury, fetched a microchip scanner to see if they could find out who the cat belonged to.

Fortunately, the cat was microchipped and they managed to get in touch with the owner.

The cat’s owner, Sian Tawn, was very glad to hear that her cat had been found. Sammy had gone missing earlier in the year when his owners were moving house. Their previous home had been just a seven-minute drive from the conference centre.

Already on her way to work, Sian popped by to pick up her much-missed cat and bring him home. Despite hoping for the best, she hadn’t expected to see him again.

Sian said: “It was amazing to get the call to say he had been found and was alive. I immediately brought him home and after a quick explore of his new home, and seeing the cats he was brought up with, he went upstairs to be with my husband and just slept non-stop.”

Speaking after the reunion, Beni said: “It was a team effort to get this lovely cat back to his owner. It really was a stroke of luck for him to wander up to a group of cat lovers who immediately sprung into action to try and get him back home. Sian was so excited to see Sammy, and we look forward to hearing how he settles back in with his family.”

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.