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Missing cat found at animal rescue conference
The owners feared they would never see their cat again.
Attendees used microchip to track down owner.

A missing cat has been found after wandering into the Association of Dog and Cat Homes conference and plonking himself down on an attendee from Cats Protection.

Beni Benstead, manager of Cats Protection’s Tyneside Adoption Centre, was sat down during a break in proceedings when the black and white cat decided to sit on her lap.

Staff at the Telford International Centre informed Beni and the other attendees that the cat had been seen around the venue for some time. Sallie Conroy, rehoming supervisor at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Bury, fetched a microchip scanner to see if they could find out who the cat belonged to.

Fortunately, the cat was microchipped and they managed to get in touch with the owner.

The cat’s owner, Sian Tawn, was very glad to hear that her cat had been found. Sammy had gone missing earlier in the year when his owners were moving house. Their previous home had been just a seven-minute drive from the conference centre.

Already on her way to work, Sian popped by to pick up her much-missed cat and bring him home. Despite hoping for the best, she hadn’t expected to see him again.

Sian said: “It was amazing to get the call to say he had been found and was alive. I immediately brought him home and after a quick explore of his new home, and seeing the cats he was brought up with, he went upstairs to be with my husband and just slept non-stop.”

Speaking after the reunion, Beni said: “It was a team effort to get this lovely cat back to his owner. It really was a stroke of luck for him to wander up to a group of cat lovers who immediately sprung into action to try and get him back home. Sian was so excited to see Sammy, and we look forward to hearing how he settles back in with his family.”

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.