A new animal welfare strategy launched by the BVA promises to help support vets as the advocates of animal welfare at individual, community and political levels.
Speaking at the annual London dinner yesterday (3 February), BVA president Sean Wensley said the strategy "sends a clear signal that the veterinary profession is, and will continue to be, a considerable force for good, for animals and for an increasingly compassionate society, in the years to come."
Over 50 years on from the Brambell Report (1965) and 10 years since the introduction of the Animal Welfare Act (2006), the field of animal welfare science is growing.
Increasingly, society expects the veterinary profession to lead debate and reflect new knowledge in their policies and practices.
"Brambell's report set in motion the now thriving field of animal welfare science - determining how animals perceive the world, and what they need and want from their perspectives," Mr Wensley added.
"In light of this new scientific understanding, society is increasingly examining how we ought to use and treat animals."
After an 18 month consultation, the BVA has released its strategy, which includes six priority areas for future action:
Animal welfare assessment - Promoting and applying tools for assessment, sharing research and publicising the importance of animal sentience to the profession
Ethics - Developing guidance, discussions and CPD to assist with ethical decision making, for example, balancing duties to animals, clients and employees
Legislation - Providing guidance and support on animal welfare legislation and its practical uses, including advice on reporting suspected animal welfare breaches such as non-accidental injuries
Advocacy - Reaching a consensus on the ways in which veterinary professionals feel it's appropriate to campaign for animal welfare improvements
Education - Assessing the delivery of animal welfare science, ethics and law, to undergraduates during the Day One Competences and Professional Development Phase
International - Forming partnerships with international vets and animal welfare organisations and promoting role and status of sentient animals
Read the full strategy here: http://www.bva.co.uk/uploadedFiles/Content/News,_campaigns_and_policies/Policies/Ethics_and_welfare/BVA-animal-welfare-strategy-feb-2016.pdf
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