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SPANA launches road traffic accidents appeal
“The majority of working animals involved in road traffic accidents do not survive” – Anna Bowker.
Charity highlights plight of working animals on busy roads.

The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA) has launched an appeal to help working animals at risk of being involved in road traffic accidents.

In the low-income countries where the charity works, it is common for animals such as donkeys to work on roads alongside cars and trucks. When accidents occur, they are often fatal for the animal involved.

With its appeal, launched on 20 June, SPANA hopes to raise funds to provide reflective collars and harnesses to improve the visibility of working animals and help keep them safer on roads. The charity also needs donations to keep running its mobile clinics and centres which provide emergency care to injured animals.

Last year, SPNA provided veterinary care and support to 336,018 working animals around the world, as well as providing training in animal care to 75,239 owners of working animals.

Anna Bowker, SPANA veterinary advisor. said: “The majority of working animals involved in road traffic accidents do not survive, and those that do are often left facing serious and painful injuries. Yet simple solutions can help prevent road traffic accidents.

“Reflective collars and harnesses are low-cost ways to make working animals visible when walking on, or near, busy roads. Made from locally available materials, these collars can help prevent working animals from being hit by vehicles.
 
“For the unfortunate animals that do become injured in traffic accidents, SPANA’s mobile clinics can provide the lifesaving treatment they need, while surgery or long stays in our centres for ongoing after care may be needed to make a full recovery.”

More details about SPANA’s appeal can be found on the charity’s website.

Image © SPANA

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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."