The suffering of abandoned kittens and puppies seems so unnecessary when we have a good solution to prevent unwanted pregnancies and unwanted puppies and kittens. Surgical sterilisation continues to be the best and most recommended and life-long solution for population control in cats. And by the fact that such appeals for help as just this one from Sushmita are so common, it is clear that there is huge need for cat owners to be able to have better access to spay/neuter surgery services.

On this World Veterinary Day, as I sat down for my morning coffee and to check on messages in my phone, I was very happy to see first the message from Dr Shireen Lawrence, thanking me for the mentoring I had provided to him over ten years ago, as he was beginning his career as a veterinarian. It was fully unexpected message and I felt very honoured and humbled by him remembering and recognising me in such a role, so many years later.