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Rescue Akita sniffs out abandoned dog
Foxy

Battersea's longest-stay resident is the heroine of the hour

A one-year-old Akita from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home became a canine heroine after sniffing out an abandoned great Dane cross just hours from death.

Battersea's secret superhero, Foxy, was on her daily walk when she barked to alert her handler to the severely emaciated dog, which had been abandoned in a ditch near the Old Windsor centre.

The nine-month-old great Dane cross was quickly taken to Battersea's clinic for emergency medical attention. She weighed just 16kg, less than half her recommended weight.

Nursing her back to health, staff named the abandoned dog Faith, watching her weight climb to a fighting fit 23kg in a month.

Just 30 days after she was discovered an inch from death, Faith was rehomed and is now enjoying life with her new owner, Annie Gravett from Battle in East Sussex.

Kaye Mughal, centre manager at Old Windsor, said: "Faith was one of the thinnest dogs we’ve ever seen at Battersea and it was definitely touch and go for a while. It’s amazing to think that if Foxy hadn’t found her hidden in the ditch she may still be there now. Instead, Faith is enjoying her new life with a loving family where she rightfully belongs."

Saviour Foxy, on the other hand, is Battersea's longest-stay resident, having been at the Old Windsor centre since February when her owners were moving home and could not take her with them.

Staff at Battersea say the young heroine has shown high intelligence and already has good training in place to help her develop into a loyal and rewarding companion for the right owner.

Kaye added: "We really hope Foxy can have the same happy ending [as Faith] because she deserves it so much, especially as she's been in kennels for almost half her life and has now saved another dog's life."

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
Germany FMD import restrictions eased

The UK government has lifted the import restrictions placed on FMD-susceptible commodities from Germany.

The decision comes after the country was recognised as foot-and-mouth disease free without vaccination on 14 May.

Imports of FMD-susceptible animals and their by-products from Germany were originally banned, after the country reported a case of FMD near Brandenburg in January. In March, the UK government permitted imports from outside of the outbreak zone.

Germany will now be able to import FMD-susceptible animals and their by-products into the UK, providing they meet other import conditions.

The decision follows rigorous technical assessment of measures in Germany. Defra says it will not hesitate respond to FMD outbreaks.