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ID:	28631Vets across the globe will mark World Veterinary Day on Saturday 26th April, with a focus on animal welfare and the contribution of the veterinary profession to animals and society. “It is a lifelong commitment to animal welfare that drives vets and veterinary nurses on a daily basis” says Katie McConnell, President of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association. “And of course, the same can be said for many animal lovers and pet owners, so this theme presents an umbrella under which to bring together all those who share this passion.”

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As leaders in veterinary education BSAVA has a number of ways that it is using science to advance animal welfare. This includes the charitable division, PetSavers, which supports vital research into companion animal diseases. “2014 is PetSavers 40th anniversary” says Katie (pictured above), “so on this World Veterinary Day it would be especially relevant for veterinary practices to join the £200 Project in order to raise money to improve animal welfare.”

Welfare is also at the centre of BSAVA’s latest initiative with the University of Liverpool, the Small Animal Surveillance Network – a national project that aims to collect information from practices all over the UK in order to identify ways in which animal health and welfare can be improved.

Similarly, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) through its Animal Wellness & Welfare Committee (AWWC) ensures animal welfare is an everyday consideration for companion animal veterinarians.

This year, WSAVA is reaching out globally with two new important programs in Africa. The first is ‘WSAVA Global Outreach' - an initiative to help share the knowledge and experience of WSAVA members more widely around the world. This will operate for the first time through a programme of outreach initiatives involving the Community Lead Animal Welfare (CLAW) project supported by AWWC, and the Community Veterinary Clinics outreach jointly sponsored by South African Veterinary Association & WSAVA. Both programs will serve as extensions to the WSAVA Annual World Congress in Cape Town in September 2014.

The second is the WSAVA Foundation's launch of the 'African Small Companion Animal Network', a ground-breaking scheme to advance standards of veterinary care across Africa through facilitating the creation of a sustainable network of companion animal veterinarians, associations and specialist groups in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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ID:	28629The One Health concept that describes the unification of the medical and veterinary professions in order to see better health and welfare standards for all is an area where BSAVA has joined with the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Through its One Health Committee, chaired by BSAVA Senior Vice President Professor Michael Day (pictured above), the aim is to establish collaborative ventures in clinical care, surveillance and control of cross-species disease.

WSAVA President, Colin Burrows says “Our One Health Committee recognizes the significance of the role of companion animals in human society and the wide ranging benefits to human health of association with pets. These interactions include the proven benefits of association with pets in childhood development, care of the ill and elderly and institutionalized populations. WSAVA’s AWWC & One Health Committees work together with the BSAVA to promote this important aspect of veterinary medicine.”

Notes
For more information about BSAVA visit www.bsava.com or contact Kay Colquhoun – k.colquhoun@bsava.com. Tel: 01452 726718. For more information on the WSAVA visit www.wsava.org or contact Rebecca George - rebecca@georgepr.com, Tel: 01449 737281/07974 161108

World Veterinary Day theme – http://www.worldvet.org/library.php?...at=4&view=item