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Abandoned puppies celebrate rescue centre birthday
All seven of the puppies have found new homes.
The seven Dachshund-Labrador crossbreeds were reunited for the occasion.

Seven Dachshund-Labrador crossbreeds have been reunited by the Scottish SPCA to celebrate their rescue birthday.

They were marking a year since they were found abandoned, aged just days old, and rescued by the charity.

The crossbreed puppies were discovered in a plastic box in Bathgate, West Lothian. A member of the public found them and brought them to a local veterinary practice.

The veterinary practice later released them into the care of the Scottish SPCA, which brought them to their Glasgow rescue and rehoming centre.

From their arrival, it was touch-and-go for the seven puppies. For the first two weeks of their lives they required around-the-clock care, including milk feeds every two hours through the night.

At weeks 3 and 4, the team were able to wean them onto puppy food, extending the time between their feeds.

The committed care of the Scottish SPCA team has meant that the puppies have all been nursed back to health. All seven of the puppies have now been rehomed, with two of them staying on with members of the Scottish SPCA team.

The puppies are now called Whirlwind, Mylo, Mavis, Orla, Bueller, Matty and Sully. The siblings were reunited by the Scottish SPCA to mark a year since they were rescued.

Lesley Morgan, one of the animal care assistants at Scottish SPCA, is Whirlwind’s owner. She says he earned his name because ‘he rules my house and is a force of nature!’.

Ms Morgan said: “It’s fantastic to see all the puppies playing with each other today. Celebrating their first birthday is something we at the centre couldn’t have dreamed of when they first came to us.

“I have such a strong bond with the pups as myself and two other colleagues hand reared them – I am just so happy that not only did they survive but started to thrive!”

She added: “Hand rearing is so rewarding but is hard work. But when I see the pandemonium and chaos of this party I wouldn’t change a thing – it was so worth it!”

Images © Scottish SPCA

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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.