Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel
Draught excluder mistaken for snake
Image - www.eveningexpress.co.uk
SSPCA called out over lookalike

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) dispatched an Animal Rescue Officer after receiving a call from a member of the public who was in some distress after coming across what she believed to be a 5ft snake in the loft of her rented home in Kingswells near Aberdeen. Upon closer investigation, Animal Rescue Officer Karen Hogg (pictured) rapidly determined that the large black and green snake was in fact a novelty draught excluder with the shape and pattern of a large snake, complete with a tongue made from red felt.

"We've rescued hundreds of snakes from properties in all sorts of unusual circumstances, so we had no reason to believe this might not be the real thing,” said Officer Hogg, who added that "This call-out really made us smile and given that we deal with cruelty and neglect day in day out, it was refreshing to go to a job where the 'animal' was completely unharmed."

The draught excluder, perhaps inevitably dubbed 'Sid', is now in the care of the SSPCA's Aberdeen Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre. 

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

FIVP launches CMA remedies survey

News Story 1
 FIVP has shared a survey, inviting those working in independent practice to share their views on the CMA's proposed remedies.

The Impact Assessment will help inform the group's response to the CMA, as it prepares to submit further evidence to the Inquiry Group. FIVP will also be attending a hearing in November.

Data will be anonymised and used solely for FIVP's response to the CMA. The survey will close on Friday, 31 October 2025. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
CMA to host webinar exploring provisional decisions

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is to host a webinar for veterinary professionals to explain the details of its provisional decisions, released on 15 October 2025.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, 29 October 2025 from 1.00pm to 2.00pm.

Officials will discuss the changes which those in practice may need to make if the provisional remedies go ahead. They will also share what happens next with the investigation.

The CMA will be answering questions from the main parties of the investigation, as well as other questions submitted ahead of the webinar.

Attendees can register here before Wednesday, 29 October at 11am. Questions must be submitted before 10am on 27 October.

A recording of the webinar will be accessible after the event.