The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and World AnimalProtection have engaged in a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which willsee them working together to raise awareness of animal welfare issues andpromote animal welfare education globally. The agreement will prioritize theimportance of the veterinary role in humane dog population management and inthe control and eradication of rabies. The two organizations hope that theircollaboration will help to engage and mobilize veterinary professionals acrossthe world to enhance harmonious co-existence between dogs and people and toensure that all dogs are treated more humanely.
Under the terms of the MoU, WSAVA members will have access to World AnimalProtection’s ‘Life’s Better with Dogs’ campaign resources and ‘Animals inDisasters’ Prepvet veterinary training course for their animal welfare andoutreach work, helping to ensure dog populations and animals in disasters havethe best possible treatment and care. World Animal Protection will promote theWSAVA’s Global Guidelines for Companion Animal Welfare, as well as activelyparticipating in events, including WSAVA World Congress, to help raise theprofile of the crucial role that veterinarians play in the lives of dogs andother animals.
World Animal Protection has a long-standing relationship with WSAVA and firstsigned an MoU in 2014 following the charity’s campaign to create better livesfor dogs globally¹.
WSAVA President Dr Shane Ryan said: “This second MoU is an extension of ourimportant collaboration with World Animal Protection. It puts more focus onthe role of the veterinarian in humane dog population management and rabiescontrol, issues in which our Animal Wellness and Welfare and One HealthCommittees take a strong interest. We look forward to this renewal of ourrelationship and to working with the World Animal Protection team andutilizing the excellent educational resources it produces.”
Programme Director for Animals in Communities at World Animal Protection,Pankaj KC, added: “Dogs have long been viewed as man’s best friend, but sadly,the majority of the free roaming global dog population lives under theconstant threat of persecution and violent culling.
“Our continued collaboration with WSAVA means that we can together continue tosafeguard the lives of dogs and people in these communities and help humansand dogs live together in harmony.”
¹ World Animal Protection’s campaign was called the ‘Red Collar campaign’. Itfocused on areas including: promoting animal welfare education globally,working towards humane and sustainable companion animal populations and rabiescontrol, promoting a global veterinary engagement strategy and raisingawareness globally for animal welfare issues.
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