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Opossum on subway surprises NY commuters
(AP Photo/New York Times)
NYPD retreat, marsupial eventually captured by Animal Control

The legendarily jaded early morning commuters on the New York Subway system, notorious for their 'seen it all' attitude, were surprised by the presence of a new kind of passenger last Friday morning – an opossum.

Passengers on the D-train spotted the marsupial underneath a seat next to a radiator at approximately 4.30am and alerted staff. It is believed that the animal boarded the subway some time after the train left its overnight base at Coney Island but before it reached Brooklyn.

The train was duly stopped at West 4th Street Station where NYPD officers with thick gloves attempted to remove it. However, the opossum bared its teeth at the officers, who are equipped with pistols, batons and body armour and are trained in self defence, in a manner that evidently made them fear for their safety. They elected to retreat to a safe distance and a team from New York Animal Care and Control (NYAC&C) were called in instead. The NYAC&C team boarded the train at the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, captured the marsupial, and removed it from the train.

This is the first time that an opossum has been spotted on the NYC Subway, which is the busiest  subway system in the Americas, and its presence was somewhat curious in nature given that the species usually prefers to live above ground in forested areas. However, they have been known to go below ground in search of warmth or food and a spokesman for the Bronx Zoo said 'It's not surprising that one would wander into a train because they are so comfortable living around people. It might have been drawn to the train by heat, or the smell of food.'



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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."