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TV spotlight on Dogs for the Disabled

Dog hero to feature on National Lottery

A hero of the dog world named Giles, is the latest to be recognised as a "National Lottery Hero", and will feature on the programme with his owner on June 8.

After applying to Dogs for the Disabled, 14-year-old Natasha Settelen - who has cerebral palsy - was introduced to Giles.

The pair have since become best friends. Natasha says: "Giles comes to my football practice and likes to join in! I now love going for walks which I didn’t before.
 
“Giles has given me more confidence in public.  He is a conversation starter with people. I love coming home from school as he has such a lovely greeting. I don’t have to ask my parents for help so much as I am more independent.”

Dogs for the Disabled is the next charity to be featured in a series of films on the charities changing lives with National Lottery Funding.

More than £35million is raised for good causes every week by National Lottery players, and Dogs for the Disabled alone have benefitted from almost half a million pounds of funding.

Giles and Natasha, and the work of Dogs for the Disabled, will be in the spotlight on this week's National Lottery: In It to Win It, which airs on BBC One on Saturday, June 8 at 8:20pm.

 

Image: Natasha with her parents, National Lottery presenter John Partridge and Giles

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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.