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Naturewatch grant to support abandoned and displaced animals
Both organisations work with abandoned or displaced dogs.
Organisations in Barbados and Sudan receive a share.

Naturewatch Foundation has revealed that its 2024 World Animal Day Grant will be shared between two organisations in Barbados and Sudan.

Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary in Barbados and the Sudanese Animal Care and Environmental Protection Organisation in Sudan will each receive a share of the annual grant for their work with abandoned and displaced animals respectively.

The majority of the grant, £8,718, has been awarded to Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary. Located in St. John, Barbados, the organisation works to rescue and rehome abused and abandoned animals.

Naturewatch’s grant will help fund the sanctuary’s monthly spay and neuter sessions, as well as supporting them with caring for injured and neglected animals until they are ready for adoption.

It will also support Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary’s outreach and education programme. The organisation hosts workshops and educational sessions to promote responsible animal care.

Karen Whittaker, founder of Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary, said: “Our ongoing mission is to enhance the wellbeing of abandoned, neglected, and stray dogs and cats in Barbados. Receiving recognition from the World Animal Day HQ is truly heartening and this grant will greatly bolster our initiatives to create a positive impact on the community.”

A smaller grant of £1,500 has also been awarded to the Sudanese Animal Care and Environmental Protection Organisation.

Amid an ongoing civil war, the Sudanese Animal Care and Environmental Protection Organisation has been providing essential vaccinations to vulnerable donkeys, horses and dogs which have been displaced by the conflict.

It also leads education programmes, providing animal carers with the knowledge they need to improve their animal care.

The work of the organisation was promoted by Mustafa Bakrawi, World Animal Day ambassador in Sudan. Mr Bakrawi highlighted the worsening conditions for animals and the project’s goal to alleviate this suffering.

Sarah Carr, CEO of Naturewatch Foundation, said: “The difficult decision to pick just a couple of winners reflects the strength of the applications received and therefore the need for financial support for animals globally.

“We are very grateful to be able to offer the World Animal Day grant to bolster important work and to our supporters who make this possible.”

Image © Shutterstock

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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...
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RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

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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."