Animals

Firework phobia could be a thing of the past for pet dogs according to the RSPCA, which is bracing itself for another busy bonfire night season.

The charity regularly receives more than three-quarters of all calls about fireworks in October and November, when Guy Fawkes and Diwali celebrations are in full swing.

Last year there were 326 fireworks related calls in those two months alone. That is 75% of the 436 received across the whole year.

It is a stressful time of year for pets and their owners, with an estimated 45% of dogs in the UK showing signs of fear when...

The RSPCA has confirmed it will not call for farmers involved in the badger cull to be named following a complaint by the NFU to the Charity Commission.

The NFU raised a number of concerns with the Charity Commission about the RSPCA’s campaigns on the badger cull and its activities relating to live animal exports. The concerns included the RSPCA’s Chief Executive calling for farmers involved in the badger cull to be named and for a boycott of milk from farmers in badger cull areas.

NFU President Peter Kendall said he was pleased with the outcome of the Charity Commission’s...

With the August bank holiday drawing ever closer, NFU Mutual is urging dog owners to follow the Countryside Code and keep their pets under control whilst walking in the countryside near livestock and horses. According to a recent report by Farmers’ Guardian, dog attacks on livestock increased from 691 in 2011 to 739 in 2012. Sheep were involved in most cases, with many being attacked, injured or killed. More than 450 incidents of dog attacks on horses have also been recorded on The British Horse Society’s accident reporting website www.horseaccidents.co.uk since it was launched in November...

New research has revealed that just 1,000 grey long-eared bats, a species native to Devon, remain in the UK and numbers are declining.

"The UK’s grey long-eared bats need greater conservation efforts before we lose them” says Dr Orly Razgour, who is calling for this little-known species to be afforded ‘UK Priority Species’ status in the newly published Conserving grey long-eared bats in our landscape: conservation management plan .

Dr Razgour is the lead author of the plan, which is based on new research she conducted into the species at the University of Bristol, in...

The summer holidays are with us, and that means millions of Brits are heading off on holiday. However, one family member is often left behind, the family pet.

The RSPCA has released a statement saying that an increasing number of pets are being left nothing but piles of food whilst their owners go away. This type of ‘care’ is extremely dangerous, as the hot weather could cause the left out food to become inedible.

The RSPCA says that they are not trying to sway people from going on holiday. However, they believe all pets should be left with adequate care arrangements whilst...

Torbay Hospital has donated a used ultrasound machine to Paignton Zoo.

Paignton Zoo Head of Veterinary Services Ghislaine Sayers said: “Ultrasound is a valuable imaging tool that helps us to diagnose certain types of soft tissue and organ disease including ligament damage and heart disease.”

It has already been used to diagnose a pregnancy in a sheep. Ghislaine again: “The big benefit for us is that it is portable. We could never have afforded to buy a new one for ourselves, so to have this one given to us is wonderful!

“Vets are not trained on this sort of...

The RSPCA have reported an alarming increase in animals being abandoned across England and Wales.

In the last year, the RSPCA were called out to rescue more than 37,000 abandoned animals and received a call asking for help every 30 seconds.

Every year the charity sees a sharp rise in abandonments at the height of summer. Evidence from the RSPCA and other animal charities suggests some people chose to get rid of their pets rather than pay for them to be looked after while they are on holiday.

In other cases, money may be spent on holidays and other summer ‘treats’...

On Saturday 15 June, Bicton College opens its doors to the public for its annual Country Fair. Live music and various animal shows will take place throughout the day alongside the many local businesses and stallholders, showcasing Devon’s finest food produce, crafts and activities. Current students will also be demonstrating their knowledge in each course area, giving the public a chance to really understand (and try for themselves!) what Bicton College is all about. The focus this year will be on music, getting active and horticulture – from tranquil garden tours to military style assault...