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Buzzards left in a cage outside wildlife centre
buzzards
Sadly, the pair are unable to fly due to the cramped conditions in which they were kept.

Scottish SPCA appealing for information

Two buzzards were found abandoned in a dog crate outside the Scottish SPCA's National Wildlife Rescue Centre. The charity is appealing for information.

Staff at the centre in Fishcross, Clackmannanshire, discovered the birds on Tuesday last week (12 July).

Centre manager Colin Seddon commented: "The birds were in a filthy condition and, judging by the amount of faeces inside the crate, had been kept in there for a considerable amount of time."

Sadly, the pair are unable to fly due to the cramped conditions in which they were kept. According to Mr Seddon, it is too early to say if they will ever be able to fly again.

"It will take a significant amount of work on the part of our wildlife team to get the birds flying if this is possible and then we will have to ensure they are in a suitable condition to fend for themselves in the wild," he added.

It is not yet known how the birds came to be left at the centre. It is a criminal offence to take buzzards from the wild to keep as pets. The Scottish SPCA is asking anyone with information to phone its animal helpline on 03000 999 999.

Image © Scottish SPCA

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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.