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Labrador and kitten strike up unlikely friendship
Barney quickly took it upon himself to become chief ‘kitten sitter’ and takes his duties very seriously.

Barney becomes five-week-old kitten’s playmate

An unlikely friendship has been struck up at Battersea’s Dogs and Cats Home, where Barney, a labrador, has found a lifelong friend in Ava, a five-week-old kitten.

Barney’s owner Rachel Ab’dee said that “Barney adores Ava and can't wait to come into Battersea every morning so that he can see her.”

Ava was rushed to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home after being found in a London garden. Cold and just a few days old, things were looking bleak for Ava until she met Barney.

Now five weeks old, Ava is being looked after and hand-fed by vet nurse Megan Goldring. She spends much of her day in the Battersea clinic office, and it was here that she met Barney.

Barney quickly took it upon himself to become chief ‘kitten sitter’ and takes his duties very seriously. He snuggles up with Ava, plays with her and watches her every move. The inseparable pair even watch TV together during break time!

Just like Ava, Barney had a rough start to life. Born on a puppy farm, he ended up with owners who couldn’t cope with a lively puppy. They brought Barney into Battersea in 2014, where Rachel Ab’dee, Battersea’s head nurse, fell in love and adopted him.

“Barney has become her best friend and favourite playmate,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see them so happy together and to know that their most difficult days are behind them.”

Image (C) Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

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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."