Rats Run Amok in American Home

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Posted: 24th November 2010

Rats Run Amok in American Home

An American animal shelter, based in California, is seeking to re-home 1,000 rats that have been rescued from a house.

The rats ran amok in the Los Angeles home of a man said to be receiving mental health treatment, after his daughter brought a pregnant rat home.

The rats started reproducing until they had taken over the entire house. They spread into the area outside the house, leading alarmed neighbors to contact producers of a reality television show Hoarders, which shows people living in rubbish and hoarding belongings.

Animal rescuers are sorting the rats in a warehouse and will make them available to new homes in December.

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First BTV-3 case of 2026/27 season confirmed

Livestock keepers are being urged to stay vigilant for Bluetongue (BTV-3) following confirmation of the disease in a ewe. The case, confirmed in Staffordshire on 23 June 2026, represents the first confirmed case of infection this summer.

The APHA said: 'The risk of Bluetongue spreading has increased so we urge all livestock keepers in GB to familiarise themselves with the nation specific bluetongue control policies and movement requirements that currently apply.'

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New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.