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Figures show scale of animal hoarding in the UK
The RSPCA has received more than 1,000 calls already this year in relation to animal hoarding.  

New figures published by the RSPCA show that the charity has received more than 1,000 calls already this year in relation to animal hoarding.   

RSPCA vet Kayleigh Hill is leading a scheme in Manchester to help those hoarding animals. She said that, since the scheme started, she and her team have visited 60 houses in the area, with each household having an average of 19 cats.

“What we want to do through this scheme is to go into people’s homes and help them,” she said. “I’m not interested in how many cats a person owns but rather how well they are able to cope and to look after them.

“We aren’t punishing people, we are working with them to reduce their animals to a number that is manageable for them. We take welfare scores of the cats each visit and what we are finding is that their scores are improving and are staying at that improved level.”

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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."