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Fire brigade rescues dog stuck in harness
The fire service used a tool to cut the buckle off of Lola's leg.

Lola trapped her leg through the buckle of her car harness. 

A three-year-old miniature pinscher from Wolstanton had to be cut free by the fire service when she accidentally got her leg stuck in the buckle of her car seat harness.

Leighanne Harrison, explained how her dog Lola came to be in that situation: “Lola gets very excited in the car and likes to stand up on the seat being nosey and looking out of the window, so we always use a safety harness, attached to the seatbelt, to keep her safe and secure.

“However, when we were taking it off, she somehow managed to put her leg through the buckle and it quickly became completely stuck. 

“We knew we needed to get some help and decided to call White Cross Vets who we have been with since Lola was a puppy.”

The team at White Cross Vets tried to help Lola by lubricating the buckle and shaving the hair around it to make more space and slide her leg out, but it became apparent that none of the tactics the team was using would work.

Pulling Lola's leg could break the fragile bones in her leg, and the team didn't want to risk that, so they called the fire service, who quickly arrived to save the day.

Holly Ravenhall, clinic director at White Cross Vets, said: “This was a very unusual case and something we’d never seen before, but dogs have a habit of surprising us and Lola is no exception!

“In the end, it became clear that it needed to be cut off and that’s when we decided to call the fire service’s non-emergency number. They were fantastic and promptly turned up in a fire engine, with all the kit. 

“We initially thought she’d have to go under a general anaesthetic for the procedure, but they had a tool that was perfect for the job, and they cut it off in a matter of minutes, with Lola staying calm throughout, much to everyone’s relief.”

Leighanne, Lola's owner, added: “Thankfully Lola wasn’t traumatised by the incident and still loves her car journeys, but we now hold her paws when we’re taking the harness off to make sure it never happens again!”

 

Image (C) White Cross Vets

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FIVP launches CMA remedies survey

News Story 1
 FIVP has shared a survey, inviting those working in independent practice to share their views on the CMA's proposed remedies.

The Impact Assessment will help inform the group's response to the CMA, as it prepares to submit further evidence to the Inquiry Group. FIVP will also be attending a hearing in November.

Data will be anonymised and used solely for FIVP's response to the CMA. The survey will close on Friday, 31 October 2025. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
CMA to host webinar exploring provisional decisions

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is to host a webinar for veterinary professionals to explain the details of its provisional decisions, released on 15 October 2025.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, 29 October 2025 from 1.00pm to 2.00pm.

Officials will discuss the changes which those in practice may need to make if the provisional remedies go ahead. They will also share what happens next with the investigation.

The CMA will be answering questions from the main parties of the investigation, as well as other questions submitted ahead of the webinar.

Attendees can register here before Wednesday, 29 October at 11am. Questions must be submitted before 10am on 27 October.

A recording of the webinar will be accessible after the event.