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Silver fox rescued after two-week mission
The fox was named Shadow by his rescuers.
The abandoned fox had been spotted in Welsh town.

A silver fox has finally been safely captured by animal rescuers after being regularly spotted around the town of Barry, Wales, for the past two weeks.

Since he was first been spotted on 8 April, numerous reports about the fox had been made to Black Foxes UK, an organisation which records sightings of unusually coloured foxes.

Local residents in the nearby village of Sully also reported seeing the fox, which was presumed to be an escaped pet, and plans were put in place to humanely capture the animal.

With the help of a local authority animal warden and a cat rescue team from the Shua Trust Home and Sanctuary, the fox was caught on Monday, 24 April.

There had been reports the fox had a leg injury, but when he was taken to a local veterinary practice, he was found to be in good health. Named Shadow by his rescuers, he appears to be around two years old.

Inquiries have been made to try to find his owner, but have so far been unsuccessful. Silver foxes are sometimes kept as exotic pets, although the RSPCA does not advise or condone keeping one.

The silver fox, also known as the black fox, is a variety of the North American red fox. It was first brought to the UK for the fur trade in the early 1900s. The colour of its fur can range from glossy black to bluish-grey.

It’s not the first time a silver fox has been captured in Barry. In 2021, a silver fox called Luna was also found abandoned.

Hayley de Ronde, founder of Black Foxes UK, praised the contribution made by Shua Trust in rescuing Shadow, saying they had gone ‘above and beyond’ to provide emergency assistance.

 

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.