Veterinarians, animal welfare organisations, campaigners and interested individuals from around the world have the opportunity to come together at this year’s International Companion Animal Welfare Conference (ICAWC) which will be taking place in Budapest from 7th to 9th October 2009.
Run by Dogs Trust - the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, ICAWC is the leading conference of its kind. It is held in a different European city each year and provides a platform where delegates working in the field of animal welfare can network, exchange knowledge and gain support from their international contemporaries.
The organisation welcomes the valuable insight and input of the veterinary profession and encourages more to attend this year.
Over twenty two speakers from across the globe will be presenting at the three day conference including eight leading veterinarians who will cover topics such as breeding control and cat population control, microchipping, early age and high volume neutering, nutrition and obesity.
Speaker Veterinarian, John Bower BVSc MRCVS, comments:
“As a vet, I find ICAWC a real eye opening experience. With so many renowned speakers and hundreds of enthusiastic delegates, all interested in animal welfare, you cannot help but be challenged, learn and be inspired. ”
Behaviour and training is a major theme of the conference with speakers highlighting the importance of understanding the psychological as well as physical issues in animal welfare. Speakers will discuss different training techniques including the “Tellington Touch”. They will also highlight the behaviour that pets need to be able to express to reduce stress and enhance their emotional wellbeing, suggesting practical ways in which to house, handle and treat companion animals. Speakers include Sarah Fisher from Tellington Touch, Carolyn Menteith from Dog Talk, Claire Bessant from the Feline Advisory Bureau, Dennis Baker OBE from Wood Green Animal Shelters and Steve Goward from Dogs Trust.
Dogs Trust Chief Executive and founder of ICAWC, Clarissa Baldwin OBE, comments:
“We are delighted to be returning to Budapest, the place where the first ever ICAWC conference was held in 1996. Since then ICAWC has welcomed thousands of animal welfare workers from over 40 countries, helping them to share and learn the skills to make the world a better place for companion animals.
ICAWC is an invaluable resource for anyone working in this field and we look forward to welcoming even more delegates this year into to the global animal welfare family.”
Previous delegates have used this knowledge and experience to make huge strides for animal welfare in their own countries. Veterinarian Peter Kiraly of The Rex Foundation in Budapest attended the first conference and has since used the knowledge he gained to make his dream a reality by opening “Animal Island” a state-of-the-art rescue centre for stray dogs.
During the conference delegates will have the opportunity to take part in three optional workshops on: Building a website, Practical Responses to Behavioural issues and also a unique opportunity to put their questions directly to the panel of experts. There will also be an opportunity to visit “Animal Island” where delegates will be able to see, firsthand, how an efficient rehoming centre works.
The conference is to be held at the Hotel Helia, Budapest, Hungary. The conference registration fee is €50 per delegate (half price if you register before 28th August 2009), with an additional workshop attendance fee of €20 per person. Delegates can register online at www.icawc.org or contact Helen Speake, ICAWC, 17 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7RQ, UK. Fax: +44 (0) 20 7833 2701. email hq-icawc@dogstrust.org.uk
