Tag Archives: Professor Josh Slater

2024, It’s been a busy year!

It’s been an exciting year for our friends at the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association (BARTA), with remarkable progress in animal rescue and safety education. BARTA played a key role at the Paris Olympics 2024, joining the equine safety and rescue team for the cross-country event at Versailles. Fortunately, no horses required rescue, however, skills of Paris firefighters’ animal rescue team were tested when a deer entered the canal in front of 5,000 spectators. Thanks to a quick response, the situation was calmly managed. Closer to home, following an incident with a loose cow, BARTA have joined an advisory group consisting of Surrey Roads Policing, the National Police Rural Crime Unit, NFU and the British Cattle Vets Association, fostering new safety initiatives to support police responders. Training this year includes fire service Responder, Team Leader and Instructor courses. … Continue reading

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 2024, It’s been a busy year!

Invite to InCOP Online – 15th January 2025

Our interim committee would like to welcome all those who are interested in planning for and responding to emergencies and disasters that affect people and animals to a meeting of a new support network, the International Community of Practice (Incidents Involving Animals). Formed at the 2024 BARTA Conference, this group has been established to ensure that all involved in planning and response to incidents involving animals, have access and affiliation to a network of like minded individuals for the benefit of mutual awareness, support and development. The initial online meeting will be an opportunity to meet contributors from around the world and begin to understand your needs and how we might best support your activities. The meeting will take place at 19.00 (GMT) on 15th January 2025 Via Zoom. Please register your interest via Trybooking.com for this free to join … Continue reading

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Invite to InCOP Online – 15th January 2025

New Animal Emergency Incident Management Network

A strategic focus for animal emergency incident management in Australia and New Zealand is the primary aim for a new organisation, the Animal Emergency Incident Management Network (AEIMN ANZ) Professor Josh Slater, BARTA Director and Chair of the new group, said “this will advance all aspects of incident management involving animals, including research, policy, education, planning, safety, and practices to improve animal welfare outcomes” David King, ESM, the Vice-Chair, said, “The organisation brings together veterinarians, emergency responders and policymakers to develop and promote safer practices at incidents involving domestic animals.” ‘It is a unique opportunity for responders to incidents involving domestic animals to share experiences and to learn from each other”. Guidelines for Large Animal Rescue Operations are now published through AFAC, the equivalent of our National Fire Chiefs Council. This guideline details operational practices that member agencies should consider … Continue reading

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on New Animal Emergency Incident Management Network

Wearing PPE… a culture change for vets

The culture is changing in the veterinary industry as a whole and wearing helmets is now common and becoming normal. This is mainly because of mandatory policies in relation to competitions and local policies set at many yards. BEVA is raising awareness of the importance of equine behaviour modification, equine behaviour assessment, risk assessment and risk reduction (including PPE and helmets). Professor Josh Slater says, “The time is right for the equine vet profession to fully engage with helmet use. Our vet schools all have helmet policies, some mandatory (i.e. wear helmets at all times when working around animals) and others are risk based, but each year of new graduates from 2018 onward will be “used to wearing helmets.” “The really pleasing thing is that students seem to be embracing helmets and we certainly don’t see any signs of reluctance … Continue reading

Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Wearing PPE… a culture change for vets