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Hero Flo – the incredible multitasking dog!
A guide and hearing dog and also the street's burglar detector too!
Flo, a Labraor cross golden retriever, is a very special dog with two official jobs – she has been trained to act as both a guide dog and a hearing dog for Kate Fenwick, who is both deaf and blind. Now it seems that she also has third unofficial role too…

In addition to making people aware of Kate’s dual sensory loss, Flo’s hearing dog training has given her a very important role in the community. Kate explains: “We have had a spate of burglaries in our area recently.  On the evening of the first one, Flo alerted me in the middle of the night, but I thought she just wanted to go out.  However, I found out the next day that there had been a burglary two streets away and the police had caught the person hiding in my shed.  

“A few days after that, Flo alerted me twice in the night – once at midnight and then at 4.45am. Again the police told me that a house close to me was broken into at midnight, and the police had attended at 4.45am! So Flo was spot on.  Now the police have asked me to dial 999 if Flo alerts me in the night, and have told me that having Flo has made me much safer than the other residents in the street.”

Kate feels very lucky to have her canine partner: “Flo has made an enormous difference to my life.  I feel so much more confident both in the house and outdoors.  She helps me not only by guiding me and alerting me to sounds, but also by changing the way people at large respond to me.”

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Voting opens for BEVA Council

News Story 1
 Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.

There are five candidates standing for four available places on Council. They are:

  • Alexandre Triguino
  • Angela Jones
  • Beth Bryant
  • Holly Rees
  • Hugh Somerville
Full profiles for each candidate can be found on the BEVA website

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BVA urges 'continued vigilance' over bluetongue

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has urged vigilance following a concerning rise in Bluetongue (BTV) cases in sheep and cattle.

In a recent statement, the BVA noted that members are reporting more severe clinical signs and higher mortality rates than in previous years.

'We know that farm vets are working hard to support farmers and animals affected by this outbreak, during what is an extremely difficult time for all involved,' they stated. 'Continued vigilance to identify disease early is vital and vaccination remains the best way of protecting animals from this disease.'