(Updated 2/5/01)

Behaviourists set to meet

THE UKRCB Symposium 2001 will take place at Loughborough University on Saturday October 6th where the theme this year is “Tools of the Trade”.

The morning speaker is Sarah Heath, MRCVS. Sarah is currently Secretary for the BSAVA Affiliated Companion Animal Behaviour Therapy Study Group and Veterinary Officer for the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, as well as Secretary of the European Society of Veterinary Clinical Ethology.

She will be speaking on Veterinary psychopharmacology, looking at the pros and cons of using drugs in conjunction with behaviour modification programmes and having an in-depth look at commercial products available for use in training and behaviour modification - what they do and what they don’t do and how this affects the dog both physically and psychologically.

The afternoon speaker is Nick Thompson, MRCVS, whose practice is veterinary consultancy offering homoeopathy, acupuncture and nutritional medicine. Nick regularly writes for several dog publications, as well as maintaining a lively and informative website. He qualified as a vet in conventional medicine before training as a homoeopathic vet and joining the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. Nick will be talking about his progression to alternative and complementary therapies in treating animals and their place in the treatment of behaviour problems.

Application for tickets (£30 which includes a delicious buffet lunch - special rate £25 for groups of eight or more) should be made to Bob Haynes The Larches, Breach Oak Lane, Corley, Near Coventry, CV7 8AU (Tel: 01676-541155). Closing date for application September 21st.