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Battersea scoops Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
The volunteers from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home regularly visit retired servicemen and women at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
 
A group of volunteers from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is set to receive the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest honour a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

Since 2011, the group has been visiting retired servicemen and women at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Together with Battersea dogs, the volunteers visit the pensioners in the infirmary or go into their room to keep them company.

Charlotte Fielder, Battersea’s head of volunteering, fostering & communities said: “Battersea is absolutely thrilled that the work of this amazing and dedicated group of volunteers has been recognised with a Queens Award for Voluntary Service.

“We couldn’t be more proud of our caring, kind and compassionate volunteers who regularly take Battersea dogs to visit the Chelsea Pensioners, offering both human and canine companionship. It’s heart-warming to witness the joy these visits can bring”.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

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News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.