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RSPCA urging owners to use parrot passports
The stray lovebird was found in a garden in Somerset.
The advice comes after charity unable to reunite stray lovebird with owner.

The RSPCA is urging owners to ensure their pet birds can be positively identified with either a microchip or closed ring. It also recommends the use of a parrot passport, which helps identify a bird in the event of an accidental escape.

A passport can be used to store information about a bird and can include photographs and ring and microchip details.

The advice comes after the charity took in a stray lovebird that was found in a garden in Norton sub Hamdon, Somerset on 22 May. Because the bird was so friendly, the householder was able to catch it and take it to their local veterinary surgery, who contacted the RSPCA for guidance. 

The charity is now looking after the lovebird but it has not been possible to reunite the bird with its owner because it is not microchipped or ringed. 

RSPCA animal rescue officer Dean Wilkins said: “She is lovely and friendly, and we’re sure there’s someone out there who’s missing their beloved pet. I have taken her to our West Hatch animal centre near Taunton where she is being well looked after.

“The team there has named her 'Tequila Sunrise' as she’s so colourful!

“We were hoping that her owner might be found but unfortunately, this lovebird was not microchipped so we have been unable to trace them. And despite putting up posters locally and posting on a lost and found site, no-one has come forward with any information, so Tequila Sunrise will now be put up for adoption and hopefully someone will soon offer her a forever home.”

The RSPCA deals with hundreds of pet psittacines each year, and many are unable to be reunited with their owners because they are not microchipped or ringed.

Image (C) RSPCA

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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."