Sainsbury’s Bank Pet Insurance has launched has launched an online tool to help people pick the right pet, after it conducted research which found that 22% regret their choice of breed.

The survey found that 51% of cat and dog owners didn't research their pets breed before buying. Of the 22% who then regretted their decision, 31% said it was because they didn’t have enough time to look after the animal, 18% because they turned out to be allergic to the animal, and 16% because they didn’t like their pet’s personality.

Apparently dog owners were more likely to regret their new pet (26%) than cat owners (16%).

Sainsbury’s has therefore launched the Pawfect Match tool, designed to help future pet owners to make informed decisions when choosing the most suitable breed for them. The pet picker asks you a number of questions about your circumstances and makes a number of suggestions based on how you answer. 

Sainsbury's campaign is being fronted by Scott Miller MRCVS, who said: "I am saddened to hear that so many pet owners are regretting the animals they have chosen as companions. Dogs and cats come in all shapes and sizes, and have different temperaments. Looking after a pet is a huge commitment so it is important that people undertake adequate research before buying a pet to ensure it is a happy experience."

COMMENT

I tried Sainsbury's pet picker and it recommended a Basset Hound as the first choice. Fair enough. I always think they look like the living embodiment of the word 'hangdog', which is not really my cup of tea. Luckily, the tool makes more than one suggestion. One of the criteria I'd specified was 'quiet and calm', so the second recommendation, a whippet, was fine. But the third caught my eye. A Border Collie. What? Whaaaaaat? Quiet and calm? A Border Collie. Are you having a laugh? I thought Border Collies usually need to be sent to some sort of asylum.

Still, if Sainsbury's tool encourages more people to think harder about their choice, that's no bad thing. But they might like to rethink the Border Collie recommendation. 

Hartpury University has launched a new equine veterinary nursing degree.

Hartpury says its four-year BSc (Hons) Equine Veterinary Nursing degree – accredited by the RCVS – is designed to produce a higher calibre of veterinary nurse than foundation degrees, top-up courses and apprenticeships alike.

The new degree is a sister qualification to the university's BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing degree, which is also accredited by the RCVS, and graduates will be able to join the RCVS VN Register, meaning they can practice as a veterinary nurse with specialism in equine veterinary nursing.

The new course covers a range of subjects, including clinical anatomy, professional veterinary nursing practice, surgical nursing, diagnostics and pharmacy management. It will also include a placement at an approved RCVS equine veterinary nursing training practice, which helps students gain valuable experience and connections for their careers.

Final-year students are able to concentrate on an area of equine veterinary nursing that particularly interests them, which will help them to stand out from the crowd when they graduate.

Catherine Phillips, Head of the Veterinary Nursing Department at Hartpury University, said: "Our new BSc (Hons) Equine Veterinary Nursing degree will add so much value to the profession as well as to graduate outcomes.

"It has been developed by equine veterinary nursing experts to provide our graduates with the vital clinical skills and knowledge to enjoy a successful and rewarding career in a highly valued profession.

"One of the major benefits of our links with equine veterinary practices and hospitals is that we’re able to provide students with access to a clinical placement at an approved RCVS equine veterinary nursing training practice.

"Undertaken in one continuous block, this will allow our students to develop equine-specific clinical skills and become a valuable part of the veterinary nursing team.

"Our students could also gain experience with more than 70 different animal species on campus, volunteering outside their studies with our animal collection, or as part of our equine and canine therapy centre teams."

Paragon Veterinary Referrals in Wakefield has won the 2019 British Veterinary Hospital Association (BVHA) Design Awards for its £5 million centre designed by architect John Marsh from DesM.

The centre was launched in February last year after an 8-month briefing and design period, followed by a 9-month construction and fit-out process.

Paragon and DesM also picked up the top prize in the Conversion category, awarded to practices which have made use of buildings previously used for other purposes.

John Marsh said: "Our aim was to build on our experience with two previous small animal hospitals for the RVC and Lower Langford Veterinary School, in designing a 'practitioners' answer' to veterinary care, but adapted to a more commercial facility, mindful of a practical but bright working environment for both the clinicians and owners, where it is a pleasure to work and a catalyst for enabling the best possible animal care."

Paragon managing director Ian Monteith said: "Every year, the BVHA seeks out and rewards the very best veterinary hospitals across the UK and we are delighted the high standards we set here at Paragon have been recognised.

"This is a terrific compliment to the very careful planning that went into designing the building and equipping it with the very latest equipment and technology."

In their report, the BVHA assessor said: "The premises are spectacular in design and appearance, creating an immediate impression of clinical excellence and quality patient care to both clients and visiting clinicians.

"The quality of the clinical work being undertaken was easy to see. There was a very positive attitude to training and induction routines, as well as mental health and team welfare."

Linnaeus has announced that - subject to completion - it has acquired Pets at Home’s Specialist Division of five veterinary referral practices, which together employ almost 680 staff.

Linnaeus was founded in 2014 from Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service and a team of 120. It was acquired in 2018 by Mars Veterinary Health and has continued to grow, now employing around 3,500 staff. 

The referral practices joining Linnaeus are Anderson Moores near Winchester, Dick White Referrals near Cambridge, North West Veterinary Referrals and Eye Vet in Runcorn and Veterinary Specialists Scotland in Livingston.

Linnaeus says the practices will retain their existing branding and will initially continue with business as usual, with all staff transferring to Linnaeus after completion. 

Bart Johnson, CEO of Linnaeus, said: “We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues and these fantastic and highly-respected referral practices into the Linnaeus family and to grow our offering further, taking another step towards making an even better world for pets.”

Alejandro Bernal, President, Mars Veterinary Health International, part of Mars Petcare which owns Linnaeus, said: “Pet care has been an important part of Mars for over 80 years and this strategic acquisition reaffirms our commitment both to the pet care industry and veterinary profession.

For more information, visit www.linnaeusgroup.co.uk.

The RCVS and the BVA have issued statements after hearing reports of individual vets and veterinary practices being on the receiving end of abusive and threatening messages from groups campaigning against the XL Bully ban. 

The RCVS said: "We understand that there are very strong opinions about the ban, and we respect the rights of individuals to make their own decisions.

"However, expressing these opinions can never justify or include the harassment and abuse of individual vets, vet nurses or their practice colleagues."

The BVA added: “The Government’s XL Bully ban is also placing additional pressure on veterinary teams who are doing their best in very challenging circumstances to help keep responsible XL Bully owners with their pets wherever possible.

"Their commitment extends to supporting clients with any decision-making around euthanasia in individual cases.

"It’s simply unacceptable for these professionals to face additional challenges through abuse, intimidation or threats.

"Such actions can have a hugely negative impact on individual vets and the wider team."

Resources:

• RCVS XL Bully Guidance: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/xl-bully-dog-ban/
• RCVS Advice line for questions about the legislation: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/contact-the-advice-team/
• BVA toolkit for dealing with abuse: https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/end-the-abuse-of-veterinary-professionals/
  
• Vetlife helpline: https://www.vetlife.org.uk/how-we-can-help/

Photo: Dlexus

Simon Leroy Hutton MRCVS has been reprimanded by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee for kicking a horse in the abdomen after it kicked him during an examination. 

The DC heard that Mr Hutton had attended to a horse called Angel at a livery yard in Sheffield.

As he examined the horse, it kicked Mr Hutton in the leg, whereupon he kicked it back in the abdomen.

Mr Hutton admitted the facts of the allegation against him.

The Committee noted that there was a dispute between the parties about the exact manner in which the kick had been administered and whether the conduct amounted to disgraceful conduct. 

Both the College and the defence obtained the opinion of experts, who were not in agreement as to whether the conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct.

The Committee heard evidence from Angel’s owner, Ms A, who was present when Mr Hutton kicked Angel and from Ms B, Mr Hutton’s life partner, who was also present.

In his witness statement, Mr Hutton said that his kick “was an instinctive reaction to what had happened and an instinctive reprimand for what I felt in the aftermath of the kick from her was malicious behaviour”.

Mr Hutton also stated that the reprimand was an appropriate response which a horse would understand, in order to modify its future behaviour.

In the hearing, Mr Hutton apologised for the incident with Angel. He said it had happened in the heat of the moment. He wished that he had apologised straight away.

In his expert evidence before the Committee, Mr T Gliddon MRCVS, called by the College, agreed that attitudes to physical reprimands had changed over time.

In his expert report, he stated that a reprimand administered by a veterinary surgeon that may have been considered acceptable by a significant body of the veterinary profession some decades ago would no longer be regarded as such now, in his opinion.

In re-examination, he stated that in his opinion, there was not a reasonable body of veterinary opinion which would consider kicking a horse as an acceptable form of negative reinforcement of behaviour.

In his expert evidence to the Committee, Dr H Tremaine FRCVS, called by Mr Hutton, stated that in the case of the minority of veterinary surgeons who used physical reprimands as a means of modifying behaviour, he was not aware that such reprimands would include the use of a kick.

The Committee concluded from the evidence that, following the kick from Angel, Mr Hutton moved away from the horse, so that he was no longer in immediate danger and that his kick in response had come after a gap in time, albeit brief.

Ms Greaney, Counsel for the College, provided written submissions on serious professional misconduct, submitting that principles 1.1 (Veterinary surgeons must make animal health and welfare their first consideration when attending to animals) and 6.5 (Veterinary surgeons must not engage in any activity or behaviour that would be likely to bring the profession into disrepute or under­mine public confidence in the profession) of the Code of Professional Conduct had been breached.

It was submitted that, on the basis that there had been a deliberate decision by Mr Hutton to kick Angel in the abdomen, he had time to consider his actions.

The College submitted that deliberately kicking Angel, either as punishment or by way of teaching or training a horse, fell far below the standard expected of veterinary surgeons.

The Committee found Mr Hutton’s state of mind when kicking Angel was not an issue and that Mr Hutton had intentionally kicked the horse.

In reaching its decision in relation to whether Mr Hutton’s conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct the Committee took into account that:

1. it had found there was a gap in time between Angel’s kick and Mr Hutton’s kick
2. it had found Mr Hutton had moved away from Angel before the kick
3. Mr Hutton had accepted that he was no longer in the ‘danger area’ before he kicked Angel
4. Mr Hutton stated that he had stepped forward towards Angel in order to deliver the kick to Angel

Mrs Judith Way, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee determined that taking all circumstances and its findings into account, this conduct was a single, but serious failure on the part of Mr Hutton and found the facts proved amounted to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.

“On deciding what, if any, sanction ought to be imposed, the Committee considered the aggravating and mitigating factors of the case, based on findings at the earlier stages of the hearing.

"The Committee found that there had been a risk of physical and/or mental injury to Angel from Mr Hutton’s conduct but accepted that there were a number of mitigating factors.

“It had been found that the incident had occurred over a very brief period and that Mr Hutton had not taken proper time to consider his response to Angel’s unexpected kick.

"This was found to be a single isolated incident and the character evidence indicated that otherwise, Mr Hutton was a competent and well-regarded veterinary surgeon.

"Mr Hutton admitted the kick early on in the proceedings and had issued an early apology, albeit seeking initially to raise some justification for his actions.

“The Committee was persuaded, in light of Mr Hutton’s admissions, heartfelt apologies, developing insight and the testimonial evidence, that he is very unlikely to repeat his past misconduct.

"However, despite the low risk of repetition, the Committee considered that the nature of the kick, delivered without the consent of the owner, could undermine public confidence in the profession.

"Thus, the Committee considered that it was proportionate to issue a reprimand together with a warning as to Mr Hutton’s future conduct.

"It has determined that this would be proportionate and sufficient to provide adequate protection for animals and maintain public confidence in the profession.”

The full details of the hearing and the Committee’s decision can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary.

Maximilian Wood MRCVS has been suspended by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee for 18 months after he was found guilty of dishonesty in relation to a falsified laboratory test result.

Mr Wood faced three charges, all relating to allegations of misconduct over a laboratory test for an alpaca while he was working at a practice in South Oxfordshire.

The charges alleged that in September 2023, Mr Wood told the alpaca’s owner that it had tested positive for Johne’s disease when in fact, the animal had not been tested.

He then allegedly sent a letter confirming a positive test result for the test that had not taken place, and then created a false test result report in the name of a veterinary surgeon colleague and sent it to another colleague by email.

He later told the alpaca's owner that he had given her the wrong result by mistake and that the test result was actually negative. 

Then in October 2023, he emailed the laboratory saying that a member of his practice’s administrative staff had written the false report.

In November he told the managing partner of his then employer on three occasions that he was investigating the false report in order to find out who sent it.

Finally, he sent a misleading and dishonest email to a veterinary surgeon colleague falsely indicating that a member of the practice’s staff had manufactured the false report, when that was not the case.

At the outset of the hearing Mr Wood admitted the facts of all the allegations against him.

Having found the facts proven, the Committee found that the charges amounted to serious professional misconduct, something which Mr Wood himself also admitted.

The Committee identified a number of aggravating factors in Mr Woods' conduct, including his lack of honesty, probity and integrity, the fact the conduct was premeditated, that it involved a breach of the client’s trust, the abuse of his professional position, the fact the conduct was sustained and repeated over a period of time, and that his conduct contravened advice given by the RCVS.

The mitigating factors included positive testimonials from professional former colleagues and client farmers, the fact that he had engaged in some remediation in order to avoid repeating the dishonest behaviour, and that he showed significant insight into his misconduct.

Dr Neil Slater MRCVS, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee recognised that the serious repeated dishonesty, which was to conceal wrongdoing, made the respondent’s misconduct particularly serious.

“It therefore gave consideration as to whether his conduct was fundamentally incompatible with being a veterinary surgeon and whether removal was the only appropriate and proportionate sanction in this case.

“The Committee considered that this was a particularly difficult case to reconcile, as, on the one hand the misconduct was so serious whereas on the other hand, the respondent had demonstrated significant insight; the risk of repetition was low; the evidence of his professional achievements was strong and the testimonials from client farmers and professional colleagues were impressive.”

He added: “The Committee considers that suspension is sufficient in the circumstances of this case to satisfy public confidence in the profession and to uphold proper professional standards of conduct and behaviour.

"The Committee therefore imposes a suspension of 18 months on the respondent.

"In determining this length, the Committee considered that this was the least period necessary in order to meet the significant public interest considerations in this case.”

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published its full review of the Shortage Occupation List and recommended that veterinary surgeons are added to it (page 82).

The Committee's decision to recommend the addition of vets to the list is seen as a major win for the RCVS and the BVA which together submitted evidence as part of the review, which began in autumn last year.

Professions on the list are prioritised for visas required to live and work in the UK. Employers wishing to hire professionals on the list are not required to complete the Resident Labour Market Test, meaning they don't have to advertise vacancies locally before offering the role to an employee from overseas.

The RCVS/BVA submission focused on the need for the UK immigration system to recognise that the veterinary workforce is already under capacity and that this problem is likely to be exacerbated after Brexit. This is due to the potential for increased demand for veterinary surgeons in areas such as export certification, and also the likelihood that fewer veterinary surgeons from the European Union will be joining the Register. It also reiterated the importance of veterinary surgeons in areas such as public health, food safety, disease surveillance and control, as well as education, research, clinical practice and animal welfare.

RCVS President Amanda Boag said: "We are very pleased to see that our submission, made with our colleagues at the BVA, has been welcomed by the Committee and that this recommendation will now be going to the key decision-makers at the Home Office for consideration. While we are still unaware of how the process of the UK leaving the EU will pan out, this is a very important step in ensuring the future security of the profession and mitigating against worsening  workforce shortages. 

"We would reiterate to the Government that the UK is currently reliant on overseas registrants to meet the demand for veterinary surgeons, with veterinary surgeons from the rest of the EU making up around 50% of new registrants each year.  By adding veterinary surgeons to the Shortage Occupation List, and therefore reducing the immigration requirements needed to live and work in the UK, the Government will be helping ensure vital veterinary work continues to be done particularly in areas such as food safety and public health."

Simon Doherty, BVA President, said: "MAC’s recommendation is a huge win for animal welfare and a resounding vote of confidence in the veterinary community and the multiple benefits it realises across the UK. We are absolutely delighted that the committee has heeded our calls and recognised the need to reinstate vets on the list to keep workforce supply and resilience high in the unpredictable times ahead."

Following issues with the implementation and associated costs of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' database (iMIS), independent IT specialists TFX Consulting Ltd have reported on both the implementation project and the long-term suitability of the database for the College's needs.

The TFX iMIS Report highlights inadequacies in the procurement process for the IT system, especially with regard to the drafting of the original brief. The Report suggests that this led to differing expectations from the College and ASI, the company licensing and assisting with the implementation of the software, in terms of the detail and complexity of the project.

Although TFX says it believes the iMIS system to be suitable for the finance functionality required, it is critical of its ability to support some other RCVS data structures, and considers it is a poor fit for the complex registration and education functions of the College. The Report writers note that the RCVS continues to fulfil its statutory duties in terms of fee collection and the maintenance of registration records.

The key recommendations of the Report are that the RCVS continues to work with the iMIS database in the immediate future, particularly with regard to core functions, but that a new partner is sought for ongoing support of the system. Thereafter, the Report recommends that a plan is put in place to migrate away from the system over a period of two to three years, as part of a natural upgrade path for RCVS IT systems.

As part of this programme, TFX recommends that a detailed analysis exercise is required, with the objective of more completely defining the College's complex requirements.

This is the second of two reports prepared by TFX; the first reviewed the College's technology more generally. The Technology Report provided valuable advice in areas of network security, staged replacement of legacy hardware and a coherent software and licensing programme, with associated staff training. 

The TFX iMIS Report can be downloaded from http://www.rcvs.org.uk/TFX

The TFX Technology Report will not be published, as it concerns issues relating to security of the College's IT infrastructure.

RCVS President Jerry Davies said: "We are grateful to TFX Consulting, and Ben Murray in particular, for the depth and clarity of both of their reports. It has been very useful to have independent scrutiny of the iMIS project and our IT systems as a whole.

"Lessons can be - and have been - learned. For example, new project management protocols have been introduced by the College, and the instigation of an Audit and Risk Committee has been agreed".

Council accepted the findings of the Report at its recent meeting, and the new Chief Executive and Secretary, Nick Stace, will consider how the recommendations are best implemented, when he takes up his post in September 2012.

Hampshire-based Robert Russell has been struck off by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee after he was convicted of possessing indecent images of children and extreme animal abuse.

Dr Russell, 64, who waived his right to attend the hearing, was convicted in 2023 of three offences: making indecent photographs of a child, possessing 2,280 prohibited images of a child and possessing 109 extreme pornographic images that included moving images that were grossly offensive.

After pleading guilty to making indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of a child, possessing a prohibited image of a child, and possessing extreme pornographic image/images portraying sexual acts with an animal, Dr Russell was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court to a two-year community order, a 30-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, 150 hours of community service and a forfeiture and destruction order of Seagate Drive, Toshiba hard drive and Lenovo tablet.

In addition, he was required to register with the police for 5 years and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years.

He was also required to pay prosecution costs of £425 and £60 victim surcharge.

Counsel for the College submitted to the Disciplinary Committee that the nature and circumstances of the offences rendered Dr Russell unfit to practise as a veterinary surgeon.

The Committee considered there to be several aggravating factors including, actual (albeit indirect) injury to an animal or child; the risk of harm to an animal or child; sexual misconduct; premeditated conduct; and, that the offences involved vulnerable children and animals.  

Neil Slater, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee has reached the conclusion that Dr Russell’s behaviour is fundamentally incompatible with being a veterinary surgeon, namely grave offences of a sexual nature.

"Dr Russell’s behaviour was so serious that removal of professional status and the rights and privileges accorded to that status is considered to be the only means of protecting the wider public interest and of maintaining confidence in the profession.

“The Committee has not taken this decision lightly, and, lest it be misinterpreted, it has not taken it in order to satisfy any notional public demand for blame and punishment.

"It has taken the decision because, in its judgment, the reputation of the profession has to be at the forefront of its thinking and ultimately this is more important than the interests of Dr Russell.

"The decision is not simply based on the fact that these offences were of a sexual nature but because they were repeated over a significant period of time and at a time when Dr Russell must have known, on his own plea of guilty, that what he was doing was wrong.

"Further, the Committee can discern no evidence that Dr Russell has insight into the gravity of the offence he has committed.

"The Committee has therefore directed the Registrar to remove his name from the Register forthwith.”

Dr Russell has 28 days from being notified of his removal from the Register to lodge an appeal with Privy Council.

Laura Rosewell, an RVN at the Ralph Veterinary Referral Centre in Buckinghamshire, has won the Diploma prize in this year's International Cat Care and International Society of Feline Medicine Distance Education Awards.

The 'Recognition of Achievement' awards, sponsored by Royal Canin, are presented to the students who have gained the highest level of attainment on the charity’s distance education courses, as a way of rewarding their exceptional hard work and dedication.

ISFM currently runs two distance education courses specifically for veterinary nurses – the ISFM Certificate in Feline Nursing and the ISFM Diploma in Feline Nursing. The Certificate is completed over a year and the Diploma over two years.

So far, over 800 nurses and technicians have done the courses from over 15 countries around the world.

The top, Diploma prize was awarded to Laura (pictured right, on the right), whilst another UK veterinary nurse, Jennifer Smith, won an award from the Certificate course, alongside Renee Vieviorka from New Zealand.

Claire Bessant, International Cat Care’s Chief Executive said: "We are delighted that over 800 veterinary nurses and technicians have undertaken these courses from many different countries. These nurses not only improve the care of the cats they personally care for, they also influence the veterinary clinic to improve its cat friendliness in general. Their enthusiasm is amazing and many cats will benefit as a result."

This year, there were also students who have completed both the Certificate and the ISFM Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour (for vets and nurses), and again the students with the highest grades were recognised. The highest achieving student on the iCatCare Certificate in Feline Behaviour was Zazie Todd from Canada, and on the ISFM Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour there were two award winners: Tricia Macpherson and Laura Edwards, both from the UK.

For more information about International Cat Care’s distance education courses, visit: http://icatcare.org/learn.

Improve Veterinary Education has launched a training programme for the Nurse Certificate (NCert) in Diagnostic Imaging.

The programme, which starts in May 2024 in Swindon, combines online and face-to-face modules.

Subjects covered include radiology principles, radiographic positioning, contrast techniques, interventional radiology, ultrasonography, Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS), Computed Tomography (CT), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Improve Veterinary Education’s Business Development Manager, Charlotte French said: "This programme equips veterinary nurses with the skills to obtain high-quality imagery, enhancing their ability to contribute significantly to the overall diagnostic process." 

One feature Improve is at pains to highlight is the way that students have access to training resources through the company's online learning platform 24/7, making it possible for students to balance their studies with their professional responsibilities. 

Charlotte added: "Our NCert Programme not only provides valuable knowledge but also offers a flexible and supportive environment conducive to effective learning."

https://improveinternational.com/uk/coursedate/ncert-vppcert-in-diagnostic-imaging