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Stuck stallion gets rescued after gate mishap
The horse required pain relief after the incident, but should make a full recovery.
On a mission to visit his friends, the plucky horse encountered an unexpected obstacle.  

A horse got himself in a bit of a sticky situation last Tuesday (10 August) when he got stuck straddling a gate.

The stallion was attempting to visit his fellow-horse neighbours over the other side of the gate, but when he tried to clear the four foot high gate, he got stuck halfway over.

Walkers in Rochester, Kent, noticed the struggling stallion and called the RSPCA for assistance, where inspector Tina Nash attended the scene.

Tina commented: “The horse, a stallion, was trying to get to the mares on the other side of the gate and obviously thought he could clear the 4ft gate. But it seems this lovely lad isn’t the greatest showjumper and got himself stuck halfway!

“If he’d have spent a little more time looking and investigating, he’d have realised that he could have walked along the fenceline a little further, he could have just trotted around to see his lady friends!”

The poor embarrassed horse didn't have to wait too long for help though, as a crew from the Kent Fire and Rescue service joined the RSPCA at the scene, and used straps to gently lift the horse up and off the gate.

A spokesperson for the Kent Fire and Rescue Service commented: “Animal rescue emergencies are as important as any other for Kent Fire and Rescue Service. The Animal Rescue Unit is made up of specially trained firefighters, who have a passion for helping all creatures great and small.”

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.