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Top of the Dogs
Pete the Lurcher with his Master's degree

Battersea rescue dog gains Master’s degree

Pete, a four-year old-lurcher awaiting a new home, has become Battersea Dogs and Cats Home’s first highly educated dog after being awarded a Master’s Degree.

The clever canine has been at the home for 133 days after arriving as a stray and was awarded a Master’s in Business (MBA) as part of an episode of BBC Newsnight, which was investigating a university offering postgraduate qualifications in exchange for money.

Staff at the world-famous animal charity are very proud of Pete and hope that his exemplary learning credentials will help him find a home.

He has had plenty of time to study his business books as he recovered from a major operation on his front leg.

The gentle-natured lurcher has been recuperating with lots of care from the charity’s clinic team and they are now eager to show people what a great pet he would make.

Although Pete can be worried by other dogs he has a lovely nature, and, with the right owners, he can start to relax.

Rob Young, head of dog rehoming, says: “To have a dog with a Master’s degree in our midst is certainly a first for Battersea and we’re proud as punch of Pete and his astounding intellect!”

“Like a number of dogs in our care, Pete has been at Battersea for over three times the average stay and is really deserving of a loving new family that will enjoy having a scholar in the family. Pete’s ready to pack his degree and books and show his new owners how clever he is.”

Image courtesy of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

 

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

News Story 1
 With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.

The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.