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Urgent appeal to support pet rescue from Kherson floods
Many of the rescued pets have needed urgent veterinary treatment due to being covered in oil.

Blue Cross Ukraine Pet Welfare Fund helping rescue operation.

Blue Cross has made an urgent appeal for people to support its Ukraine Pet Welfare Fund that is helping to fund the pet rescue operation following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Kherson, Ukraine.

Save the Dogs and Other Animals is a Romanian-based organisation, and partner of Blue Cross. Its team of volunteers in the Kherson region have been rescuing pets that are trapped in houses and yards or trying to swim to safety. Many have needed urgent veterinary treatment due to being covered in oil. The oil has been used to power generators in homes during power outages due to the conflict.

Blue Cross has been helping pets and their owners in Ukraine since March 2022, shortly after the invasion began. In order to help provide food, housing, blankets and other equipment, the charity set up the Blue Cross Ukraine Pet Welfare Fund. 

So far the fund has helped supply 741 tons of pet food, more than 450 dog houses, and thousands of dog jackets and blankets to help cats and dogs survive the harsh Ukrainian winter. 

Anna Wade, public affairs manager at Blue Cross said: “The Blue Cross Ukraine Pet Welfare Fund has already received incredible support from animal lovers in the UK. Funds have provided food and shelter for pets sadly left behind when their owners had to flee. The floods in Kherson are a further blow, particularly because of the oil dangerously covering pets. We are appealing for further funds to cover the rescue of these pets needing urgent veterinary care, food and shelter after their rescue.” 

The Blue Cross Ukraine Pet Welfare Fund is helping to cover the the veterinary costs of rescued pets, including treatment for a dog named Bagheera, who was saved from the floods in Kherson. He was covered in oil and suffering from a spinal injury. 

Liliana Pacheco from Save the Dogs and Other Animals said: “We can’t thank Blue Cross and its supporters enough for the funds already donated. Not only does this mean that pets rescued from the floods get the emergency vet treatment they need, but it also allows us to buy them food and supplies like crates, dog leads and other essential equipment. Happily, many pets have been saved so far but there is still a lot to do to make sure no dogs or cats are left to suffer.”

Donations can be made to the Blue Cross Ukraine Pet Welfare Fund online.

Image (C) Blue Cross

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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."