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Dog elected as Mayor of Minnesota town
Dog with interviewer

Duke the dog is seven years old and is the new mayor of Cormorant, Minnesota.

Residents of Cormorant, Minnesota have welcomed a seven-year-old dog named Duke as their new Mayor after he won the town's recent election.

According to wday.com, twelve people each paid $1 to cast a vote. David Rick of Cormorant says:  "He follows me wherever I go. His name came up. In fact, I voted for him."

Tricia Maloney of Cormorant added:  "Poor Richard Sherbrook that owns the Cormorant store, he didn't even have half as many votes as Duke did."

After winning, Duke received five hours of grooming and a brand new outfit. As for his salary, a pet food shop is donating a year's supple of kibble to reward him for his service.

Duke, who was sworn in on Saturday during Cormorant's annual fair, is far from the youngest recent mayor in Minnesota.  A young boy called Bobby Tufts won the post when he was just three years of age.  He recently lost his bid for a third consecutive term to 16-year old Eric Mueller of Mendota Heights, Minnesota.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."