Royal Veterinary College Animal Care Trust

03/11/2026

Join us on Saturday 14th November for Pause for Paws, a special event celebrating the celebrating the wonderful pets who have touched our lives and the lasting difference they continue to make.

Enjoy a talk from an RVC clinician and researcher, a guided visit to our Memory Tree and Memorial Garden, plus tea, coffee and cakes, with time to meet fellow pet owners.

The event is free, from 10am to 1pm at the RVC’s Hawkshead campus, but places are limited. Reserve your place here: rvcact.com/pauseforpaws

29/10/2026

It’s the end of the month, which means Paws & Hooves bitesize is here!

This month, meet Ziggy, a ten-year-old cat whose remarkable recovery was made possible by equipment funded through your generosity. We're also sharing new research into rabbit welfare, inviting you to join us for Pause for Paws, and giving you the chance to win £1,000 in our Autumn Raffle!

Want to receive Paws & Hooves Bitesize straight to your inbox? Sign up to our mailing list: rvcact.com/mailinglist

29/10/2026

26/10/2026

🐢 Doris, an Aldabra giant tortoise from Wingham Wildlife Park, recently visited the RVC Exotics Service after his team noticed he had become unusually lethargic and had some fluid build-up.

To investigate, Doris underwent a CT scan and a cardiac ultrasound, both made possible thanks to equipment funded by your support. The detailed imaging helped clinicians identify spinal problems affecting his mobility, as well as fluid build-up around his heart – conditions that can be challenging to diagnose in large tortoise species.

Following his tests, the team was able to develop an appropriate treatment plan for Doris. He made a smooth recovery and returned to Wingham Wildlife Park, where his team continues to monitor his progress.

Make sure to read Doris’s full story in the autumn issue of Paws & Hooves: rvcact.com/PawsAndHoovesAutumn2026

22/10/2026

🐰 Did you know we’re helping fund research into the health risks facing lop-eared rabbits?

Research designed and led by Dr Charlotte Burn, and conducted by RVC rabbit welfare research assistants Maria Jackson and Michaela Betts, examined 435 pedigree rabbits across 49 breeds.

The findings revealed that lop-eared rabbits were more likely to show ear abnormalities, including narrowing of the ear canal, discharge and signs of inflammation. These conditions can be painful and affect a rabbit’s quality of life, highlighting the importance of regular veterinary checks and responsible breeding.

You can read more about this research in the latest issue of Paws & Hooves: rvcact.com/PawsAndHoovesAutumn2026

21/10/2026

Buy a £1 ticket in our Autumn Raffle and you could be our lucky £1,000 winner!

Every ticket helps support animals in our care, funding life-saving treatment and specialist veterinary care. Enter now: rvcact.com/raffle

Full T&Cs can be found here: rvcact.com/termsandconditions

19/10/2026

Our popular latest event 'Night at the Vet College' for all ages returns on November 11th at the Royal Veterinary College’s Camden campus, 4-9pm!

You can try out vet skills and lab activities, hear about our science in mini-lectures, and see anatomy demonstrations. Staff and students will help you see behind the scenes at RVC, and you can enjoy catering from our cafe.

Capacity limited, reserve your free ticket here: rvcact.com/NightAtVetCollege

16/10/2026

Voting closes this Sunday!

Please nominate us in the Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards and help give us the chance to win £5,000 again. Last year, thanks to your nominations, we were one of the lucky winners. We’d love your support again this year! Vote here: rvcact.com/benefactgroup

14/10/2026

Thanks to the support of the Aitchison-Tait Trust, RVC student Laura Chua travelled to Namibia to carry out wildlife research at Ongava Game Reserve as part of her Master’s in Wildlife Health Sciences.

Laura’s research explored how changes in rainfall can affect the balance of males and females in wildlife populations, including rhinos, lions and kudu. Alongside analysing more than 20 years of data, she gained hands-on experience in the field, monitoring waterholes and managing camera traps alongside conservation professionals.

Today, Laura is Deputy Head of Ectotherms at Singapore Zoo, where she works in animal care, welfare and conservation, including initiatives focused on Aldabra giant tortoises. She shared:

"I owe my deepest gratitude to the Aitchison-Tait Trust. Their generosity directly supported not only my education and research, but also the development of my career in wildlife conservation and animal management"

You can read Laura’s full story and more in the latest issue of Paws & Hooves: rvcact.com/PawsAndHoovesAutumn2026

12/10/2026

🐱 Say hello to Ziggy! This ten-year-old domestic shorthair was referred to the RVC after suffering a serious fracture to his femur. Unable to walk and in significant discomfort, he needed urgent surgery to repair his broken bone.

Thanks to your support, Ziggy became the first patient at the RVC to benefit from a newly funded SurgX interlocking nail system, an innovative piece of equipment helping our clinicians advance the treatment of long bone fractures in cats and dogs.

Using the new system, alongside a C-arm, also funded by your support, the team were able to precisely align and stabilise Ziggy’s fractured femur.

And Ziggy made a fantastic recovery! Within 24 hours, he was comfortable and bearing weight on his injured leg, and by his eight-week check-up, his fracture had almost completely healed.

Read the full story in the Autumn issue of Paws & Hooves: rvcact.com/PawsAndHoovesAutumn2026