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A YEAR IN REVIEW FROM

THE ACTING CHAIR OF THE ANIMAL CARE TRUST

Standing in for my colleague Professor Stephen Among the many highlights of the year gone, here away from the kennels for bandage changes…
May, to whom we send our best wishes in his are three that I carry with me as I reflect on the the list goes on… Thank you!
recuperation from illness, as Acting Chair of importance of the ACT and the support it provides • It has also been a difficult time for our students
the ACT, I am pleased to offer a few words of to worthy causes. and we have been very fortunate to be able to
introduction to the stories and reports in the • There was a huge response to our 2020 help them with an emergency COVID-19 fund
pages that follow.
Christmas Appeal and a very generous donation thanks to a legacy from a supporter who wanted
from a long-term supporter meant we were able to support those pursuing their dreams of a career
Similar to Stephen’s commentary last year, I do not to purchase and install a new state-of-the-art helping animals. And that is one of the strengths
think any of us approaching the end of 2020 would ophthalmology microscope in time for the New of the ACT - it is about animals and people.
have guessed our activities would have been so Year. We were also able to relocate the older
disrupted for so long as we have continued to battle microscope - which is still in good condition but Of course, these are just a few and none would have
the pandemic. One of the comments I have heard does not have the additional functionality and been possible without your support. We are indebted
frequently around the RVC during 2021 is the lack precision for smaller eyes - to the RVC Equine to everyone who works so hard to raise funds for us
of definition in the passing of time, with few of us Referral Hospital where it was immediately put to in such difficult circumstances, and particularly, this
able to identify “coat good use. year, the London Marathon Team who had their event
hooks” on which dates changed. From raffle tickets to Memory Tree
to hang memories • The appeal to raise funds to refurbish the cat dedications, to gifts small and large, thank you. We
and around which ward in the RVC Small Animal Referral Hospital cannot do what we do without you.
to weave the was another big success. Our clinical teams With all best wishes,
narrative of our lives. provide numerous advanced treatments for cats,
Nevertheless, the but this can involve long hospital stays for our
work of the ACT has feline patients. As anyone familiar with cats will
gone from strength know this can be enormously stressful for them
to strength and the and it is very important they can be cared for in
rhythm of fundraising the best possible environment. The funds raised
events has been an allowed us to procure new kennels with soft Stuart WJ Reid CBE
important contributor close doors. To physically re-engineer the whole Principal, Royal Veterinary College
to the heartbeat ward, to purchase feliway sprays, new infusion Acting Chair ACT
of our charitable pumps, specialist bedding with areas for cats to
efforts. hide, and to create dedicated treatment areas

Veterinary Record, Mark Thomas 5