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Volunteers join RSPCA’s Big Help Out campaign
'Wildlife Friends' pledge their time on and before 8 May to complete small tasks to support, nurture and protect wildlife.
The initiative invites people to pledge their time to help local wildlife.

To mark the King’s Coronation, volunteers are dedicating time to support the wildlife in their local area as part of the RSPCA’s Big Help Out campaign.

So far, more than 500 people have signed up for the campaign which was launched on 20 March. By getting involved in the initiative, 'Wildlife Friends' pledge their time on and before 8 May to complete small tasks to support, nurture and protect the wildlife in their local or wider community.

Volunteers are encouraged to take part in activities such as organising a litter pick, putting food out for hedgehogs, building nest boxes for wild animals and rewilding gardens.

RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood said: “We are recruiting ‘Wildlife Friends’ to give people the chance to join thousands of others making a difference at the Big Help Out on May 8.

“We all share our neighbourhoods with wonderful wildlife and we need to protect them - so by becoming an RSPCA Wildlife Friend, animal lovers can join with their community to make a safe space for the animals who share our world.”

RSPCA head of volunteering Brian Reeves added: “We can all do our bit for animals and ‘Wildlife Friends’ is great for anyone who can spare a few minutes or a couple of hours. These things will all make a huge difference for wild animals, and their welfare - and we’re hoping even more amazing volunteers join us as part of the Big Help Out between now and May 8.”

Those interested in getting involved with The Big Help Out, can find more information on the RSPCA’s website.

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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.