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Category: Animal Welfare
The news items published under this category are as follows.
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Animal Welfare: Animals that cyclone survivors depend on need help now
Posted by: JimEdwards on Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 02:52 PM
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 An emergency veterinary team from the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is on stand-by in Thailand awaiting entry authority to cyclone struck Myanmar to assess and then relieve the suffering of thousands of animals that human survivors depend on for food and their livelihoods.
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Animal Welfare: BVA Animal Welfare Foundation 2008 Discussion Forum
Posted by: JimEdwards on Thursday, May 01, 2008 - 04:10 PM
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Can people afford animal welfare in food production?
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 The latest in the increasingly popular BVA Animal Welfare Foundation discussion forums takes place this year at the Royal College of Physicians on Tuesday 20 May. As part of the Foundation’s aim of improving animal welfare through debate, it holds an annual Discussion Forum which brings fellow vets, animal welfare and government organisations together in order to identify and discuss important welfare-related issues.
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Animal Welfare: AVMA brochure on animal welfare targets veterinary students
Posted by: JimEdwards on Thursday, May 01, 2008 - 04:09 PM
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 May 1, 2008
"Animal welfare: Seeing the forest and the trees" is a new brochure that describes the AVMA's philosophy regarding animal welfare.
Veterinary students are the primary audience for the brochure, which also is available at www.avma.org/issues for public access. The brochure states that science and ethics should be the basis of decisions about animal welfare, as well as a whole-system approach and careful consideration of the consequences of decisions—such as how changes to improve the behavioral aspects of animal welfare may result in detriments to the health aspects.
The brochure's introductory section defines animal welfare and lists the AVMA Animal Welfare Principles. Other sections address production animals and laboratory animals.
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Animal Welfare: WSPA helping Vets Worldwide Learn about Animal Welfare
Posted by: JimEdwards on Thursday, May 01, 2008 - 04:09 PM
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In a bid to ensure veterinarians around the world are familiar with the latest developments in animal welfare, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has launched an updated version of its international syllabus, ‘Concepts in Animal Welfare’.
The WSPA’s Programme Manager, Bridget Vercoe, says the content has been updated by WSPA to reflect new developments in animal welfare. The revised version comprises 34 interactive modules on CD-ROM and encourages inclusion of specific topics within established veterinary syllabuses. It tackles a diverse range of subjects affecting farm and working animals, wildlife, companion animals and those used in experimentation.
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Animal Welfare: Course On Animal Welfare for Veterinary Surgeons and Others
Posted by: JimEdwards on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 03:57 PM
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University of Cambridge with contributions from other experts
14th-26th September 2008
This Course is structured to cover the curriculum for the RCVS Certificate in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law. The Modules will also be of interest to those who are not veterinary surgeons. These and other details can also be found at http://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/default.html. It is expected that part of the RCVS will be examined in 2008 by the University of Cambridge. For details, contact Professor Broom – dmb16@cam.ac.uk.
A combination of lectures, videos and discussions will be used for instruction. Candidates for the Certificate will be expected to cover the required reading material. The Course will be taught by Professor D.M. Broom and others in the Centre for Animal Welfare and Anthrozoology in the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Professor D.B. Morton and colleagues in the Department of Biomedical Science and Biomedical Ethics in the University of Birmingham and invited lecturers, in particular Mr. M. Radford from the Department of Law in the University of Aberdeen.
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Animal Welfare: AVMA testifies against keeping primates as pets
Posted by: JimEdwards on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 02:35 PM
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April 15, 2008
Citing concerns about the spread of disease and injury, inhumane treatment of animals, and ecologic damage, Dr. Gail C. Golab, director of the AVMA Animal Welfare Division, recently spoke before a House subcommittee on the dangers of private ownership of nonhuman primates by unlicensed individuals.
The legislation would make chimpanzees, monkeys, and other nonhuman primates prohibited wildlife species, thus strictly limiting commerce in pet primates. Persons or agencies licensed or registered by the government, such as zoos and research facilities, are exempt under the proposal.
Dr. Golab told subcommittee members that the evidence is clear that primates kept as pets are unsafe. Not only are these animals a physical threat, they may also be a source of the herpes B virus and other zoonotic pathogens. "Make no mistake about it," Dr. Golab, said, "nonhuman primates kept as pets—while cute and often very entertaining—can also pose serious injury risks for their human caretakers and other domestic animals."
For these reasons, the AVMA opposes private ownership of these animals as well as their use as assistance or service animals, Dr. Golab said. The AVMA does strongly support animal health professionals who work with primates in conservation and biomedical research efforts, she added.
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Animal Welfare: WSPA launches revised version of Concepts in Animal Welfare CD ROM
Posted by: JimEdwards on Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 01:24 PM
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WSPA is Helping Veterinary Students Worldwide Learn About Animal Welfare
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A revised and expanded international syllabus to assist with the teaching of animal welfare in veterinary faculties has been launched by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) this week. The 2003 version of the ‘Concepts in Animal Welfare syllabus’ was the result of a long-standing collaboration with the University of Bristol’s School of Veterinary Medicine, one of the world’s first academic institutions to pioneer animal welfare teaching and research.
The content has been revised and updated by WSPA to reflect new developments in animal welfare. The revised version comprises 34 interactive modules on CD-ROM and encourages inclusion of specific topics within established veterinary syllabuses. It tackles a diverse range of subjects affecting farm and working animals, wildlife, companion animals and those used in experimentation.
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Animal Welfare: ‘Best practice’ farm project shows results in China
Posted by: JimEdwards on Thursday, April 10, 2008 - 02:18 PM
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Chinese farms participating in the Model Farm Project – which spreads awareness of humane and sustainable farming practices – hosted representatives from project founders WSPA and Food Animal Initiative (FAI) in April for their first official visit.
The Model Farm Project began in 2006, when WSPA teamed up with the Oxford-based FAI to promote best practise animal welfare to farms in China and Brazil, two of the world’s biggest meat producing countries.
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Animal Welfare: Experts turn out for farm animal welfare in China
Posted by: JimEdwards on Thursday, April 03, 2008 - 05:03 PM
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World renowned animal welfare experts traveled to China to take part in a landmark conference on farm animal welfare last week.
WSPA, along with three other leading animal welfare organisations - Compassion in World Farming, the Humane Society International and the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals – joined forces to host the two-day conference.
Amy Firth, WSPA’s Farm Animal Welfare Programme Manager, described the standard of presentations and the interest in the conference as truly heartwarming.
“There is a real desire to improve farm animal welfare in China and WSPA will do all it can to assist with this,” she added.
Peter Davies, Director General of WSPA, said: “The commitment to and knowledge shared at this conference is another hugely significant step for farm animal welfare in China.”
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Animal Welfare: Free Veterinary Treatment Camps in Kamonki, Gujranwala
Posted by: JimEdwards on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 06:02 PM
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Report By, Waseem Shaukat
Media Coordinator, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences Lahore
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Vets Care Organization Pakistan organized free veterinary treatment camps in three villages of Kamonki Tehsil of Gujranwala District on Sunday March 30, 2008. About 36 veterinary students; members of Vets Care Club from the University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences Lahore along-with veterinary doctors participated in the camp in the supervision of Dr. Zia-ur-Rehman (Advisor, Vets Care Club). A briefing session was held at the Civil Veterinary Hospital Wahndo. Past President of VCO and Veterinary Officer CVH Wahndo Dr. Qamar Majeed told about the status of animal health in the area, major diseases, their effects and prevention moves against those diseases. He told that Liver fluke is a major problem in the area which affects the health of animals and animals go through extreme stress which also decreases their production. ?To save the animals from parasites, de-worming is very necessary after every three months? he told; adding, "Due to financial problems and lack of knowledge, farmers don't care their animals".
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Animal Welfare: Veterinary training manikins
Posted by: JimEdwards on Thursday, March 27, 2008 - 01:57 PM
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Rescue Critters make animal training manikins and alternatives for a number of organizations.
The concept of "Rescue Critters" came from realizing that there was a need for training mannikins to teach people pet first aid skills. Our realistic K-9 & cat mannikins are perfect for Veterinary Teaching Universities, K-9 Search and Rescue Units, Veterinary Technical Skills, Police K-9 unit & pet owners.
They allow Students to use a realistic animal mannikin before working with live animals.
More information at: Rescue Critters.
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Animal Welfare: VCO organizing a free veterinary treatment camp
Posted by: JimEdwards on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 - 10:08 PM
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Report By WASEEM SHAUKAT
Media Coordinator, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Lahore
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Vets Care Organization, Pakistan (VCO) is organizing a free veterinary treatment camp at village "Wahndo" Tehsil Kamonki, District Gujranwala on March 30. Veterinary doctors of Vets Care Organization and veterinary students of Vets Care Club, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences Lahore will participate in the camp. Sick animals will be provided technical services and free medicines in order to save their lives.
This camp is continuation of field activities of VCO for the welfare of animals. This camp will not only help the farmers to get their animals treated freely but will also enhance professional skills of the veterinary students by directly working in the field.
VCO apeals all its readers to help us for successful organizing of this camp in all te ways you can. i.e. donations, medicines, gifts for volunteers etc...
Volunteers who want to join this camp are requested to contact with Camp Coordinator Mr. Sajjad Ahmad at freecamp@vetscare.org or 0333-4105134
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Animal Welfare: UK: Vets' shortage hits farm welfare
Posted by: JimEdwards on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 06:53 PM
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Ed Foss
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A serious shortage of farm vets in parts of East Anglia could, according to this story, lead to failures in curbing devastating animal diseases such as bluetongue and impact animal welfare.
The number of vets working with large animals has declined drastically in some areas, meaning they have to travel longer distances and charge higher prices for their visits.
With many livestock farmers facing tough financial pressures linked with rising costs of fuel and feed alongside depressed market prices, the prospect of increasing vet bills is leading to fewer calls to vets.
This is turn threatens disease surveillance at a time when transport processes and travelling habits have brought ruinous animal illnesses such as foot and mouth and bluetongue to the fore.
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Animal Welfare: Heat Stress Model Keeps Cows Cool
Posted by: JimEdwards on Monday, March 17, 2008 - 02:12 PM
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By Laura McGinnis
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It's hard to relax if your cattle are stressed, so the ability to predict and avoid potential stressors is essential.
Fortunately, an online model developed by scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) provides information to help cattle—and producers—keep their cool when temperatures rise. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.
For years, producers relied on the National Weather Service for livestock weather warnings. When that service was discontinued in the mid-1990s, many producers turned to university websites. The university warnings, like those they'd replaced, were based on temperature and humidity predictions, but did not account for other influential factors.
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Animal Welfare: Battling Bolivia’s floods
Posted by: JimEdwards on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 02:27 PM
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March 2008: WSPA and member society Animales S.O.S. are feeding thousands of animals left stranded during increasingly severe floods in Bolivia which began late last year.
The Bolivian Government has now declared 57 municipalities areas of natural disaster. Around 13,000 cattle are estimated dead and farmers have responded by moving their families and surviving livestock to higher ground.
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Animal Welfare: Help for Free-Range Poultry
Posted by: JimEdwards on Saturday, March 01, 2008 - 01:19 PM
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The BVA: Animal Welfare Foundation has announced the availability of an updated version of its A3 poultry poster designed to assist veterinary surgeons identify diseases in free-range birds. Based on information compiled by Victoria Roberts, Honorary Veterinary Surgeon to The Poultry Club, the poster provides an invaluable source of information on diseases affecting exhibition chickens, hens, ducks, geese, turkeys, ornamental waterfowl, quail, ornamental pheasants, guinea fowl and peacocks.
The poster details, in an easy to follow format, symptoms of different diseases, the cause, treatment and species affected as well as sections covering common problems and some causes, common diseases by age and life expectancy for the various bird species. A separate highlighted box contains useful tips for veterinary surgeons to pass on to their clients.
Copies of the poster have been circulated to BVA members as an insert in this week’s Veterinary Record. For further copies (free of charge) please ring 020 7636 6541 and ask for the BVA AWF or email bva-awf@bva.co.uk stating your name and postal address, and quoting AWF Poultry Poster.
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Animal Welfare: WSPA acts as volcano threatens communities and animals
Posted by: JimEdwards on Saturday, March 01, 2008 - 01:19 PM
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The Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador’s Sangay National Park has showered the local region with ash, contaminating water, crops and animal feed. A WSPA disaster management team is working with member society Proteccion Animal Ecuador (PAE) to prevent animal suffering and sustain local livelihoods.
Volcanic activity slowly increased in January 2008, mirroring the behaviour of Tungurahua prior to the violent eruption of 2006. While that level of devastation has not yet been repeated, the ash pollution has already killed animals and many others are suffering.
In rural Ecuador, animals provide transport, livelihoods and food as well as the companionship that domestic animals give the world over. In an area like this, maintaining a healthy animal population during emergency situations contributes to the recovery of local communities.
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Animal Welfare: Veterinary behavior society announces position on punishment
Posted by: JimEdwards on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 - 05:36 PM
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February 15, 2008
In response to the popularity of television shows such as "The Dog Whisperer," the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has issued a position statement and guidelines on the use of punishment for dealing with behavior problems in animals.
The guidelines clarify that while punishment can be effective in specific contexts, it also has an association with many adverse effects.
"A major problem with using punishment is that it suppresses behavior temporarily but does not necessarily modify the underlying cause of the behavior," said Dr. John Ciribassi, AVSAB president.
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Animal Welfare: 2008 AAWS International Animal Welfare Conference
Posted by: JimEdwards on Wednesday, February 06, 2008 - 11:20 PM
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The AAWS Conference Organising Committee is pleased to invite you to the Gold Coast, Queensland, for the first AAWS International Animal Welfare Conference. With the theme of 'Animal Welfare - it's everyone's business', the conference will bring together global leaders in animal welfare science and practice for 3 days of presentations, discussions, posters and networking.
The conference will be held at Conrad Jupiters, Broadbeach, from August 31 to September 3.
Plenary speakers include:
Ivan Caple, Professor, Australia
Peter Sandoe, Professor, Bioethics, Centre for Bioethics and Risk assessment, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Donald Broom, Professor, Animal Welfare, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Marian Dawkins, Professor of Animal Welfare, Animal Behaviour research Group, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
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Animal Welfare: Practical Guide to Caring for your Pet Ferret
Posted by: JimEdwards on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 - 03:33 PM
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 The BVA Animal Welfare Foundation (BVA AWF) has today launched a new practical guide designed to enable owners to provide the very best of care for their pet ferrets. Produced in association with the Ferret Education & Research Trust (FERT), the leaflet reflects the growing popularity of these intelligent and curious animals as household pets.
Carl Padgett, Chair of the BVA AWF Trustees explained that “while ferrets can sleep for a large period of the day, when they are awake they are very active and need a lot of stimulation to occupy their time. They live an average of eight to ten years so a high level of commitment and care is needed but our new guide should ensure that even the novice owner has all the information necessary to ensure their pet’s health and welfare.”
Covering the basics such as housing, feeding, health care and toilet training, the guide also offers advice on ‘ferret-proofing’ your home and garden, advice on games – ferrets particularly love hide-and-seek – and, very importantly, breeding and neutering as well as vaccination against Canine Distemper should owners be tempted to take their ferret for a walk on a lead and harness.
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