Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 8th May 2013
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel
Abandoned pets at an all-time high
Battersea reports 50 per cent rise in cases
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has reported a record number of pets coming through its doors, seeing a 50 per cent rise in abandoned pets compared to last year.

The charity has received nearly 5,000 calls from struggling pet owners so far this year, and 1,340 in April alone - the largest amount it has ever received in one month.

Key reasons cited by owners giving up their pets are moving into rented accommodation, changes to working hours and insufficient time to care for their pet.

According to Battersea, the most rapidly growing cause of owners giving up pets was moving home, which is up 82 per cent this year compared to 2012.

Pets being given up due to changing work hours rose by 68 per cent this year, and owners claiming to have insufficient time to care for their pets rose by 55 per cent.

Whilst the charity says the recession has played a large part in the rising number of owners giving up their pets, a troubling number of people are buying dogs with limited understanding of the time and effort involved in their care.

"Unfortunately we are seeing more and more people contacting us because they have grown bored or they didn’t realise the hard work involved in owning a dog," says Liz McWalter, head of intake at Battersea.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.