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Geronimo euthanised after four year legal battle
Supporters of the alpaca watched live as a webcam broadcasting Geronimo's pen captured the moment he was taken from the farm.

The now-famous alpaca was euthanised by officials on 31 August. 

Geronimo the alpaca, who was ordered to be euthanised by Defra, has been killed, as reported by BBC News.

The alpaca, who has been at the centre of a legal row with the government, tested positive for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in two tests four years ago, after arriving in the UK from New Zealand. 

Yesterday (Tuesday 31 August), Defra officials, accompanied by police officers, forcibly removed Geronimo from Wickwar farm, and shortly after, Defra confirmed that the animal had been euthanised. 

Defra has confirmed that a postmortem examination will be carried out by veterinary pathologists from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

The alpaca's owner, Helen Macdonald, told BBC News: "We know now they have been stringing us along for the last week, fobbing us off by saying people are on holiday and would get back to us this week.

"In fact, all the time they were simply planning to murder Geronimo. This is yet another appalling demonstration of bad faith and duplicity by the secretary of state and everyone at Defra.

"Geronimo has been manhandled out of my farm. He was rounded-up and dragged into a horsebox."

Chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss told BBC News: "Not only is this essential to protect the livelihoods of our farming industry and rural communities, but it is also necessary to avoid more TB cases in humans.

"No-one wants to have to cull infected animals if it can be avoided."

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

News Story 1
 With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.

The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Vivienne Mackinnon elected BVA Scottish Branch President

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has elected Vivienne Mackinnon as its new BVA Scottish Branch president.

Dr Mackinnon has over 30 years of experience in veterinary care, encompassing both small animal and mixed practice. She has worked in practices in Scotland, England, New Zealand and Australia, before joining APHA to work in frontline disease control.

In her speech, Dr Mackinnon reflected on the changes in Scotland's veterinary industry and highlighted her commitment to veterinary education.

Dr Mackinnon said: "I look forward to working with colleagues across the veterinary professions to improve animal health and welfare in the country and support veterinary workplaces."