Vet filesWSPA’s vets: leading the way in animal welfare

The five freedoms

• freedom from hunger and thirst – by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.

• freedom from discomfort – by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.

• freedom from pain, injury or disease – by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.

• freedom to express normal behaviour – by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.

• freedom from fear and distress – by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

(FAWC 2009)

Ambassadors for animal welfare

Veterinary professionals play a key role in society; in rural and urban settings, in the scientific community, as educators and practitioners. Across the world, veterinarians’ expert knowledge is sought and respected by people with a range of relationships with animals: farmers, owners, conservationists, and those working towards better animal welfare.

Good animal welfare is an integral part of ensuring animal health. An animal that is in good health is deemed to be fit and able to cope physically and mentally with its environment, as well as being able to display natural behaviours.

In turn, the safeguarding of good animal welfare is an integral part of the role of the veterinary professional. Vets are uniquely placed to impact on the lives of animals, directly and indirectly:

• in their roles as animal health professionals vets are responsible for providing treatment and preventative medicine, as well as being the first line of defence in identifying poor welfare

• as advisers to owners as well as governments and corporations, veterinary practitioners shape the attitudes and behaviours of the multitudes. They are the gateway to improved animal welfare.

Animal welfare can also broaden the horizons of trainee and practising vets alike, offering exciting practice opportunities. This brochure celebrates the work of some of the World Society for the Protection of Animals’ (WSPA) vets. It showcases the varied experiences available to those dynamic individuals who embrace animal welfare as key to responsible practice.

From working towards a world with more humane and sustainable agriculture, to reducing the occurrence of the unnecessary culling of dogs, to rescuing animals from disasters, our vets have used their technical expertise to reduce the suffering of millions animals and have found a truly rewarding career.

Disclaimer: The views represented herein are those of the individuals and may describe experiences prior to their employment at WSPA.

About MelANiAFor as long as I can remember I have always liked animals. When I was six, I saw a dead cat in a gutter and I begged my mother to let me take it home for a proper burial. I then volunteered in a zoo when I was 14 and was very distressed to see the large felines pacing around endlessly in their cages. At 19 I made the decision to study veterinary medicine in order to help animals have happy lives and also to be a happy person myself.

When I worked in veterinary clinics, one day we received a stray female dog that had been run over by a car. We nursed her to health but unfortunately couldn’t find her a new home due to her old age and what some people would call her ‘unattractiveness’. After three months of living at the clinic I decided to adopt her myself and took her home. She was very skittish with adults and somewhat aggressive with children due to fright, but after only a few months of good food, positive reinforcement and care she lost all fear of adults and children and is now a happy, healthy, tail-wagging dog. Needless to say, I find her beautiful inside and out.

Vets are the ‘go to’ professionals for all questions about animals, including those about mental health and welfare. People respect vets and take their advice on how to take care of their animals – everything from feeding them correctly, making sure that they are living in a proper space, and that they are being handled with care. Vets need to be prepared and knowledgeable on these subjects. I believe animal welfare should be an integral part of veterinary training and should be applied in our everyday life and work. This can include anything from using analgesics pre, during and post-surgery to teaching owners about more humane ways of training their pets.

Inspiring the next generation to respect animals is very important to me. I would tell children that there are different types of animals: those that are our pets, those that we use for food and those that live out in the wild. All of them deserve our respect and protection.

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Name: Dr Melania Gamboa

Age: 31

Location: Heredia, Costa Rica

Role: WSPA veterinary programmes

manager for Central America,

Mexico and the Caribbean

(companion animal welfare and

humane education)

Education: Kansas State University, USA

Practice as a vet: Two and half years in small

animal clinics

Favourite animal: Dog

Dr Melania Gamboa

Vets are the ‘go to’ professionals for all questions about animals, including those about mental health and welfare.

About WilsONI was born, raised and attended primary school in a rural village in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania. My family made their living entirely from subsistence farming. I only started at primary school at age eight as for three years I had to be a herd boy and look after the animals. We had lots of dogs to chase off the wild animals that would come from the nearby game reserve and destroy our crops.

So, my background was like a Masai child who grew up with animals; I developed an interest in and compassion for them and decided to become a vet. I was passionate about animals, but their welfare only became important to me after I joined WSPA and understood concepts like the five freedoms. To me good welfare is the state in which an animal is able to fulfil all its natural needs, including physical, health and behavioural needs, and is not subjected to unnecessary or unreasonable pain or distress.

In Africa many vets qualify without a grounding in animal welfare science and ethics. This lack of knowledge and understanding affects the decisions they make in their professional lives and this can have serious animal welfare repercussions. A vet can play a major role in directly improving animal welfare through their own actions and by influencing others to do the same. They have influence at a local, national and international level so it is important for them to understand the welfare needs of animals.

My dream was to be a vet and many others share this ambition. I would say to them that being a vet is a noble profession with diverse options for a future career. It is our responsibility to care for animals, as they are totally helpless and depend on us like children. They trust that we will be kind and take care of their needs. Animals are reliable, full of love and true in their affections.

In Africa many people think it is good to opt for human medicine as there are so many health problems facing the people. However, I will say this: we must have compassion for ALL life – human life is not the only life worth protecting.

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Name: Dr Wilson JosephAge: 43Location: Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaRole: WSPA project manager for Africa (companion animals and working equines) Education: Sokoine University of Agriculture, TanzaniaPractice as a vet: Two years in Dar es Salaam – I still practise in the same clinic at the weekend when I have timeFavourite animal: Dogs and cats

Dr Wilson Joseph

Vets have influence at a local, national and international level so it is important for them to understand the welfare needs of animals.

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Name: Dr Sergio VasquezAge: 42Location: Heredia, Costa RicaRole: WSPA disaster management veterinaryofficerforCentral America, Mexico and the Caribbean Education: Veterinary Faculty of Monterrey,Costa Rica and México Practice as a vet: 15 years Favourite animal: Catsandtankfishes

Dr sergio Vasquez

As vets we need to minimise suffering by

setting standards.

About seRGiOIn my childhood I was always bringing animals home, especially injured ones – birds, iguanas, constrictors that were crushed by passing cars, dogs and even small horses and a baby alligator found abandoned in a drying pond. My mother helped me to feed them and find a way to cure them as at the time I did not know how to do it. From there I realised that dogs and cats and even a horse will always be faithful to you no matter what, and I decided to become a vet.

For many people in Latin America animals are nothing but a nuisance. This is mainly because of a big lack of education. I have learned that human nature is not always humane. People need to understand that every animal can suffer and feel pain, just like we can. Both pets and livestock need to be respected and – if looked after properly – can give much back. Pets are friends and brothers for many children and are important to their psychological development. They are part of the family core.

Livestock and working animals need to be well-fed, sheltered, correctly dressed and given rest. And the more care an owner can give, the more productive the animal will be. However, in countries where there is much poverty, it is hard to tell someone to care better for or spend more time and money on their animals – they may only have one meal a day themselves, or big families to feed.

In intensive farming systems the welfare of many animals can be poor. As vets we need to minimise suffering by setting standards for staff to follow. If we fail to do this we send a message to people that animals’ distress does not matter, and this will be passed on to their children.

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About RAstOWhile at vet school, in what was then Czechoslovakia, I became disappointed by the emphasis on economic profit in veterinary education in what was a newly post-communist country. Profit and the protection of human health were always presented as the only criteria in decisions that involved animals. I thought that something was not right there.

Later on I found out that in other European countries, scientists discussed ethics and attitudes towards animals and animal welfare. I realised then what was missing at my school. The change in the political system helped open doors to the rest of Europe and information began to pour in. In 1992 I was lucky to join Slovakia’s first ever animal protection organisation and watch it begin to grow.

I had always thought that in an ideal world all vets would be true advocates of animal welfare. The subject should be a part of training and should help vets to see animals not as a commodity but as sentient beings. However, whilst studying and practising, I saw many students and professionals

giving very little or no consideration to animal suffering. I saw vets who were sympathetic to animals coming under other pressures and making unethical decisions and performing bad practice. So in 1993 I joined EuroNiche (now InterNiche), an organisation aiming to introduce humane education into veterinary and bio-medical schools and replace the use of animals with alternatives.

For me one of the most encouraging signs of change was the success of a campaign I worked on to ban the dissection of small animals at high schools, which was a routine practice in science classes. When I look back it was not that difficult to achieve. What was important was that in a country with 5 million inhabitants we collected almost 100,000 signatures. This petition was delivered to the Ministry of Education and many celebrities joined the campaign, commenting on the issue in the media. This was a positive sign that society was becoming more compassionate and animal welfare was becoming an important issue. The Ministry of Education banned the practice in 1994 after a year-long media campaign.

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Name: Dr Rasto Kolesar

Age: 40

Location: London, England

Role: WSPA farm animal welfare

programme manager

(international remit)

Education: University of Veterinary

Medicine Kosice, Slovakia

Practice as a vet: Six months with farm animals in

Slovakia; one year in small

animal practice in the USA

Favourite animal: Pig

Dr Rasto Kolesar

In 1992 I was lucky to join the country’s first ever animal protection organisation and watch it begin to grow.

About AiMIn Thailand, you can see a huge difference between how owned and stray dogs are treated. Strays are an enormous problem in Bangkok and most people just ignore them. But some get annoyed – it is common to see dogs being beaten – and even compassionate people cannot afford to feed or take care of them properly, so they stay on the streets.

It is a different picture for owned dogs. Wealthy owners take very good care of their pets, often pampering them too much! They wear a different ‘outfit’ for each occasion, get ‘beauty treatments’ and live in nice houses. Seeing the difference can really blow your mind. In my fourth year at veterinary school I practised on a dairy farm in northern Thailand. It is a hard fact to accept, but we were taught how to make the most profit out of the least production cost for the farmer. Most dairy farms in Thailand are small-scale and do not have the technology to help reduce costs – they have to make cuts in other areas and this has a huge impact on animal welfare. Cows with mastitis may not get proper treatment, or some are milked more than they should be. Some farms cannot afford enough staff, so cows with signs of disease or lameness are not noticed until their conditions worsen. Those that are critically ill usually end up going to the slaughterhouse. At the time, I was not so familiar with the concept of animal welfare, but I knew something better could be done!

Animal welfare reflects a good human standard – ethically and intellectually. It is important that we care for other species as much as we do for our own. It is a way of showing respect. It not only helps animals but also humans and it is our responsibility as vets to help the public understand this.

To any aspiring young vets, I would say if you really want to become one, be a good one. A good vet makes a difference, even if it is for one dog or one cow. Make the five or six years of hard work really count, for you and the animals.

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Name: Dr Aim PrasarnphanichAge: 26Location: Bangkok, ThailandRole: WSPA disaster management veterinary intern for Oceania and Asia Education: Chulalongkorn University, ThailandPractice as a vet: Joined WSPA fresh from vet schoolFavourite animal:Iamadoglover,withfive dogs at home

Dr Aim Prasarnphanich

Animal welfare ... not only helps animals but also humans and it is our responsibility as vets to help the public understand this.

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About iNGRiDI remember the first time I visited a pig farm as part of a university field trip. I saw lines and lines of sows in gestation crates and thought that they probably didn’t enjoy being in that situation. By that time I had already watched a few documentaries showing that pigs are more intelligent than dogs, so I asked my teacher about their mental stress and he told me that this was how it was done in the industry. He said the animals were fine since they were being properly fed and were in a clean environment. I accepted his answer because he was my teacher and I respected him.

As my studies progressed, I became fascinated with neurology and signed up to all the classes. It was then that I started to realise that the brains of all vertebrate species are similar and have evolved the same way as ours. I was amazed at how so few people understood that animals are sentient and can suffer psychologically, like we can. It was clear to me that something had to change.

I think farm animals suffer the most. In a single day a piglet goes through castration, tail docking, having its teeth cut – all without anaesthesia. And this happens when they are only a few days old, not to mention the suffering they endure for the rest of their lives and when they are slaughtered.

I really believe in WSPA’s humane slaughter programme. I think it has a direct positive impact on millions of animals. I had the opportunity to attend a training session at a poultry slaughterhouse and was amazed to see the change in peoples’ behaviours through direct education. On the visit prior to the training, the humane slaughter team had pointed out to one of the staff that the level of water in the stunning chamber was too low. This was causing improper stunning of birds prior to bleeding, and it was very damaging to the welfare of the animals. On the following day, the slaughterhouse staff had already corrected this error, so the impact was immediate, and affected thousands of animals from this day on.

Name: Dr Ingrid Eder

Age: 33

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Role: WSPA programmes manager for

Brazil

Education: University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Practice as a vet: Two years working with

large animals

Favourite animal: Horse

Dr ingrid eder

I was amazed at how so few people understood that animals are sentient and can suffer psychologically, like we can.

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About JANI first began to think about animal welfare during university. We had little formal education on the subject but the principles could be seen almost everywhere in the lectures of dedicated teachers. After completing my PhD on elephants in European zoos, I started working at a wildlife organisation in Asia and witnessed some very upsetting animal welfare situations. It became clear to me that being a vet is about more than just caring for the physical health of an animal.

One of the saddest things to see is a young animal whose fate seems unavoidable. I remember treating a seven month old bear cub that was sitting in a tiny, rotten cage. He was placed too close to an adult bear, which had attacked him through the cage, ripping his leg apart. In that specific situation it was impossible to help this cub other than leaving antibiotics for the open wound. It was frustrating that the owners did not learn from this. The cub was doomed for a life in a cage with three legs.

For other wild animals, there have been happier endings. At one project a very old female elephant was rescued from horrendous conditions and a life in solitary confinement and taken to a sanctuary. It was beautiful to see how she relaxed in her new environment and how the rest of the elephant group dealt with her quirks and permanent mental problems, by giving her the space to be alone if required or providing group comfort. She died of old age but those last two or three years must have been the best of her life.

Wild animals do need to be protected. Currently, their welfare is not recognised by conservation experts as being part of this protection. There is insufficient legislation to affect even the most basic of welfare standards. This needs to change, but until it does, the needs of animals are dependent on the good will of individuals who want to make a difference. Luckily, these people do exist, it is just a case of finding them!

Name: Dr Jan Schmidt-Burbach

Age: 34Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Role: WSPA wildlife veterinary

programmes manager for

Oceania and Asia

Education: University of Giessen, Germany

Practice as a vet: One year of general practice;

four years with wild animals

Favourite animal: Camel

Dr Jan schmidt-Burbach

Being a vet is about more than just caring for the physical health of an animal.

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About iANAnimals have surrounded me throughout my life. Pre-school these were cats and dogs. Even when I was young I knew that it was important to look after animals – especially those that were dependant on you. Throughout school I knew it was my task to pick a fresh bucket of grass every day to supplement the diet of all my herbivorous friends in the backyard, despite the frost and the rain!

Sadly, during my career I have witnessed many instances where the welfare of animals has been compromised. One of the most unforgettable, purely because of the scale of loss, was when over 130,000 cattle and buffalo drowned as a result of Cyclone Nargis hitting Myanmar in May 2008.

Others I remember because of the intense suffering of one individual through cruelty or neglect. While in Scotland I treated a young mare that had been cast because her feet had developed laminitis. While she had been lying down, maggots had eaten away the soft tissue between the front wall of her hoof and the pedal bone beneath in all four feet. She was also covered with pressure sores from having been cast for so long. The story does have a happy ending however as she did end up making a full recovery with a lot of hard work from the owner, the farrier and the vets.

The sadness of some cases is balanced with some wonderful experiences and the knowledge that as a vet I can make a difference. I have illustrated the five freedoms with some of my most uplifting moments:

• freedom from hunger and thirst: In 1999, at the end of the Kosovo war, I helped to free trapped livestock from their enclosures. They could then eat and drink the readily available grass and water that had been just out of reach.

• freedom from discomfort: I don’t know how many tangled up animals I’ve freed! From birds caught in fishing lines, horses in wire, and even a monk seal in a fishing net when I lived in Morocco.

• freedom from pain, injury or disease: As a clinical veterinarian this is of course what I do every day. Keep the vaccinations coming!

• freedom to express normal behaviour: In 1998, I rescued a six-month old baby macaque from a hotel in Marrakech. I took her to Rabat where she entered the macaque release programme being run by the zoo.

• freedom from fear and distress: I have treated many animals that have suffered unseen abuse. A common symptom of this is ‘fear-biting’ in dogs, usually coupled with a neglected condition. I have been able to identify many cases of abuse by recognising this type of fearful behaviour.

Animal welfare is incredibly important to me as a vet. Through training, vets gain the knowledge of what an animal is, how it works and how actions we take can benefit individuals as well as groups. We see evidence of animal suffering from accidents, neglect or deliberate cruelty on a daily basis. I believe there is no better profession from which one can scientifically support and progress animal welfare both immediately and over time.

There are national and international animal welfare standards and codes, such as those from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and I would say to fellow vets that we should support these initiatives and laws as much as we can. And remember that we are here for the animals, not the other way round!

Name: Dr Ian Dacre

Age: 42

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Role: WSPA disaster management

operations manager for Oceania

and Asia

Education: Undergraduate at Massey

University, New Zealand; PhD at

Edinburgh University, Scotland

Practice as a vet: Five years of mixed animal

practice UK; four years running

animal shelters with SPANA

in Morocco; four years at

equine dental referral hospital

in Edinburgh while completing

PhD; two years teaching equine

medicine at Massey University

and two years working with the

New Zealand Animal Welfare Group

Favourite animal: All ... but if I had to choos

e,

dogs and horses

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Dr ian DacreAnimal welfare is incredibly important to me as a vet … Remember that we are here for the animals, not the other way round!

About AleXMy interest in animals began when I realised their importance for national and global development. In Tanzania, more than 25 per cent of the land is kept aside for wildlife conservation, which is the second largest sector contributing to the country’s economy. In this context, most people have to know how live with, care for and protect animals.

Some, however, treat wild animals as money-making commodities, without considering their welfare. Hunting for sport is a big problem. When I came to understand how important animals are not only for their own sake, but for local and international development, I chose my profession.

I knew that as a vet I would be a contact person to address problems facing animals, such as disease and management

issues. And if I had an in-depth understanding of animal welfare I would be able to demonstrate to people how to keep animals in good condition and prevent their suffering.

I think vets are responsible not only for managing and treating animals, but should advise owners and governments on acceptable animal welfare standards. One of the most exciting moments of my career to date was in February 2011, when the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism in Tanzania implemented non-lethal methods in controlling human–wildlife conflict, following discussions with WSPA and local partners. This is a huge step forward in protection for Tanzania’s elephants. Ensuring there are national and international policies in place that protect animals is the key to improving welfare across the globe, and vets can influence these.

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Name: Dr Alex Chang’a

Age: 41

Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Role: WSPA wildlife programmes

manager for Africa

Education: Sokoine University of

Agriculture, Tanzania

Practice as a vet: Four years with Kingolwira

Dairy Farm; four years working

with livestock at the Africa

Wildlife Foundation

Favourite animal: Wild animals, especially

elephants

Dr Alex Chang’a

Some people treat wild animals as money-making commodities without considering their welfare.

About ROBeRtOVery early on, my parents encouraged me to have a pet and to assume responsibility for it. They also took me to local beauty spots where we could watch and learn to recognise native wildlife. I have them to thank for inspiring me to become a vet!

Our main purpose as vets is to safeguard animal health, and their welfare is a huge part of this and key to achieving it. I feel we should be the pioneers of animal welfare, regardless of one’s specific area of work. And we should remember that we chose this career looking to protect animal health and not to please owners’ whims!

The concept of animal welfare consists of three basic aspects – physical health, psychological health and the nature of the species. The five freedoms are a good tool to measure or comprehend animal welfare better, but it is important to consider that these only represent the minimal conditions that animals require. We must teach the next generation that animals have intrinsic value and to respect ALL forms of life.

We also need to make governments listen. A huge challenge that faces us as vets is the inclusion of animal welfare when addressing the economic needs of a country. Economic need can actually be considered as an opportunity, because good animal welfare is proved to have many positive impacts on people, including their financial wellbeing.

For those who want to be a vet, I would say they are about to choose the best career, and although they will encounter some difficult moments, working with animals is incredibly gratifying. They will need to dedicate a lot of time to studying but they will be able to communicate in a very special way with animals, save lots of lives and make this world a better place for humans and animals alike.

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Name: Dr Roberto VietoAge: 27Location: Heredia, Costa Rica Role: WSPAprogrammesofficerfor Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (working equines, farm animals and dolphin and whale welfare) Education: San Francisco de Asís Veterinary School, Costa RicaPractice as a vet: Four years as a companion animal and wildlife clinicianFavourite animal:Itisdifficulttochoosejust one – some of my favourites are armadillos, sloths, tapirs, alpacas and anteaters

Dr Roberto Vieto

Our main purpose as vets is to safeguard animal health, and their welfare is a huge part of this and key to achieving it.

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Name: Dr Rosangela Ribeiro

Age: 38Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Role: WSPA veterinary programmes

manager for Brazil (companion

animals and education)

Education: University of Sao Paulo,

BrazilPractice as a vet: Small animal practice for nine

years; two years lecturing on

bioethics and animal welfare

while specialising in internal

medicine and exotic animals

at teaching hospital

Favourite animal: Cat

Dr Rosangela Ribeiro

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About ROsANGelAWhen I was young my mother would help stray cats, dogs and birds that she found on the street. We never bought an animal, we looked after these abandoned ones, always taking in those with poor skin condition, blindness and lameness. My childhood dream was to have a big farm to keep all the unfortunate animals in. But I soon realised that this was not a solution and began to have a new awareness about the wider animal situation. Then I knew I wanted to be a vet.

At university I had two lecturers, Professor Julia Matera and Professor Irvenia Prada, who influenced me a lot and introduced me to animal welfare. As a result, I began to question the use of live animals in the vet classes. Some of my class colleagues and I voiced our concerns about this and the university stopped using dogs during surgical classes. An alternative technique of using preserved cadavers was developed and is still in use today.

My training brought up many ethical dilemmas, especially in classes where they used live animals in a harmful way, such as toxicology, physiology and reproduction. I remember one specific occasion where I refused to perform yet another rectal palpation on a cow that had been palpated many times. All these questions at university made me curious about animal welfare. I attended a workshop run by WSPA in 1995 called ‘Pet Respect’ where I learnt about the humane way to control dog and cat populations.

During the disastrous floods in Pernambuco, Brazil in June 2010, I saw many dogs in terrible conditions, prisoners on short chains. But I could not argue with their owners as they were poor families who lost everything to the floods and were ignorant of animal welfare. The saddest experience for me was when I had to euthanise a dog at terminal stage of distemper in front of his owner – a little girl who had lost her home. The family was very poor and the dog was suffering badly, so I had no choice. I clearly remember euthanising him on the patch of mud and rubble that was once the family’s home. This scene and the child’s anguish will always stay in my mind.

But there were also some uplifting moments during my work in the floods. I was able to assist a lot of poor people who had lost everything. However, they did still have hope and were looking after their animals in the shelters; it was a difficult time and I was very happy to help them. I am now working with animals in Rio de Janeiro following the severe floods of early 2011. In just one week, we managed to reach and provide aid for 500 animals, which is a fantastic outcome.

I would encourage those aspiring to be vets and tell them not to give up on their dreams. If they follow their heart and their genuine desire they will be rewarded for doing what they love. But I also would tell them never to lose focus that their patients are the animals and not the humans.

I would encourage those aspiring to be vets never to lose focus that their patients are the animals and not the humans.

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About JUAN CARlOsIn many parts of the world, including Latin America, animals are not yet thought of as sentient beings. When I was young, my friends used to bother and disturb animals, but I could not take part. I would watch animals from afar and if they let me, I would pet them! I was transfixed by natural history documentaries and the more I watched the more passionate I became.

While studying to become a vet, I refused to take part in vivisection practices or any kind of animal experimentation and the traditional animal handling techniques being taught. I began working for WSPA in 2000 and had the opportunity to study animal welfare at the University of Bristol. This confirmed my beliefs about what veterinary medicine should be.

Animals are much like children – you get back what you put in. If you want the best from an animal you must do as much as you can to provide the right conditions for it to develop. I also believe animals can give back so much. Helping animals will make you a better person, and will make you develop

kindness, care and love for other living creatures, including human beings. It is uplifting when you hear of owners doing their best to keep their animals safe or risking themselves for an animal which has become part of the family.

However, there is much work to be done. As vets, we must see ourselves as teachers – for owners, officials and the public. We must increase awareness of the sentience of animals. Animal welfare must be incorporated into people’s daily lives and be at the forefront of owners minds, as well as embedded in culture. Only in this way can we have a positive impact on the lives of animals.

Name: Dr Juan Carlos MurilloAge: 43Location: Heredia, Costa Rica Role: WSPA disaster management veterinary coordinator for Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean Education: National University, Costa Rica; University for the International Cooperation, Costa Rica; University of Bristol, UKPractice as a vet: More than 10 years in small animal practice and the meat industryFavourite animal: Dogs, cats, cows and horses

Dr Juan Carlos Murillo

As vets, we must see ourselves as teachers – for owners, officials and the public.

About NAtAsHAMy uncle was a vet at the local zoo and when I was young he took me to the nursery. There were little tiger cubs, a bear and a baby monkey in there at that time. I carried the little monkey around, and it actually peed on me! But that was when I knew I wanted to be a vet, because I cared more about the little monkey than the mess.

I didn’t know about animal welfare back then, but I felt depressed looking at the bears and tigers pacing around in their small barren cages (now I know that is called stereotypy). I felt better seeing the deer as they were in a larger space and seemed happier in their group. Looking back, although I didn’t know the term ‘animal welfare’, I was instinctively aware of it.

I think children often have an innate compassion towards animals. I remember when I was working at an SPCA clinic there was a girl of about 10 years old who lived nearby. She had a cat which was sick and her parents didn’t care for it nor want to pay for it, but she cared about it so much that she

saved up her own pocket money to have it treated at the clinic. She later got it neutered too. Of course we didn’t have the heart to charge her for it.

Even during my veterinary training animal welfare was not taught and the term was alien to most people. It was only when I joined the SPCA that I learnt about it and the five freedoms. I think this needs to change and vets, as the authority on animals, need to become leaders in animal welfare too.

Name: Dr Natasha Lee

Age: 31

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Role: WSPA veterinary programmes

manager for Oceania and Asia

(companion animals and

tertiary education)

Education: Universiti Putra, Malaysia

Practice as a vet: Three years in small

animal practice

Favourite animal: I can’t answer – it is like

asking a mother to pick her

favourite child!

Dr Natasha lee

Vets, as the authority on animals, need to become leaders in animal welfare too.

About MARiA NellYVets must be at the forefront in putting animal welfare on the global agenda. We need to ensure that these issues are a priority for international organisations, veterinary associations and scientific colleges. Animals must be thought of for their moral value and not merely for their productive or material qualities.

For me, one of my greatest achievements was being able to participate in both veterinary associations nationally and globally as well as being an advisor to international organisations such as the Pan American Council of Veterinary Education, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. In these international forums I was able to influence important political decisions about my profession and the inclusion of animal welfare. Also, as a lecturer in bioethics and animal welfare I have been able to plant these concepts firmly in the minds of the next generation of vets in my country.

Animal welfare is the concept of respect and consideration for animals firstly as sentient beings, but also as a part of the world in which we live. They are essential for the balance of the planet and are an integral link between humans and the environment. We need to consider both their physical and mental wellbeing so that they can adapt to their environment – even if this happens to be in a production system, or as pets at home, or as wild animals in their habitat.

One of the biggest challenges in my part of the world is convincing people that animal welfare is not a fad, or sentimentality. It is essential in promoting research, creating and applying bioethical principles within veterinary medicine and in the global concept of ‘one world, one health’. Only by accepting the important role animal welfare plays can we create a more humane science that incorporates human and animal wellbeing.

Name: Dr Maria Nelly Cajiao

Location: Bogota, Colombia

Role: WSPA development manager

for South America (animal

welfare organisations and

education)

Education: Environmental and Applied

Sciences University,

Bogota, Colombia

Pracitice as a vet: 15 years Favourite animal: Dogs, cats and horses

Vets must be at the forefront in putting animal welfare on the global agenda.

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Dr Maria Nelly Cajiao

About DAViDAfter 15 years of general veterinary practice I joined the RSPCA. At the time I thought it was an interim measure, but I enjoyed the work so much and became so inspired by improving the welfare of animals that I stayed and became chief veterinary officer in 1983.

I soon realised that as a vet you have a respected professional platform from which to speak for animals so I became involved with Eurogroup for Animals. I left the RSPCA and moved Eurogroup to Brussels, where it grew into one of the most influential lobbying organisations. We had great influence on the development of animal welfare legislation in Europe – as a political lobbyist my greatest achievement was working with the organisation to get the European Parliament to vote for a ban on battery cages. We worked for weeks and met with dozens of MEPs in order to ensure that a phasing out was agreed. There is no doubt in my mind that if Eurogroup had not existed we would never have got the ban on veal calf crates, sow stalls and battery cages and thousands more animals would be suffering right now.

With WSPA I have continued to work closely with fellow vets, influencing the veterinary profession to support a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare and creating a formal agreement between WSPA and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to work together to protect animals from unnecessary pain and suffering. As a vet I have the scientific background necessary to communicate the wide-ranging benefits of animal welfare to national and international decision makers.

Working with international animal welfare organisations and the OIE has involved travelling all over the world and helping to create organisations and structures – such as the International Coalition for Animal Welfare (ICFAW) – that will ensure many, many animals are more protected and in better health for a long time to come. I’m proud that this is my legacy as a vet.

Name: Dr David Wilkins MBE (for services to animal welfare)Age: 72Location: Sussex, EnglandRole: WSPA chief veterinary advisor, (international remit) Education: Cambridge University, England Practice as a vet: Large animal practice for four years; worked with Canadian department of Agriculture for three years; small animal practice for eight years;chiefveterinaryofficer of the RSPCA for nine years; director of Eurogroup for Animals for 12 years Favourite animal: Dogs and cattle

As a vet you have a respected professional platform from which to speak for animals.

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Dr David Wilkins

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About NiCKI was born in Kenya and grew up in a family that was passionate about animals and enthralled by wild places so caring about them was ingrained in me from birth. Working to help animals has been a lifelong undertaking. But I only became consciously aware of animal welfare as an important entity once I joined WSPA.

Of all the various professions, vets have the greatest impact on animal welfare. Their actions and directions affect millions of animals every day. It is therefore critical that vets are deeply conscious of the sentience of their charges and feel ethically obliged to ensure that their welfare is well taken care of.

When discussing animal welfare in Africa it is important to take into consideration that most humans do not have basic welfare standards themselves. However this does not stop me from standing up for animals. I explain that animals are capable of suffering just as humans are and that because we own and control them we have a responsibility to ensure their

wellbeing. It is also valuable to explain the synergy between improved animal welfare and better human welfare, particularly where communities rely heavily on their animals. By making the connection to improved human welfare – that is healthy and happy animals produce more and complement human health programmes – one is able to get much quicker buy-in.

In Africa the biggest challenge for progress in animal welfare is lack of good governance. This results in unequal distribution of resources and widespread poverty. Underprivileged societies develop coping mechanisms to survive, which often threaten more vulnerable creatures and environments. People implement these strategies without realising the impact they are having. There are therefore two principle challenges facing this continent: improving its governance and the standard of education. Both are huge undertakings!

Dr Nick De souza

Of all the various professions, vets have the greatest impact on animal welfare. Their actions and directions affect millions of animals every day.

Name: Dr Nick De SouzaAge: 53Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Role: WSPA regional director for Africa Education: University of Nairobi, KenyaPractice as a vet: 15 years veterinary practice with a range of animalsFavourite animal: I love them all but if pressed it would be a dog or an elephant

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This brochure celebrates the work of some of the World Society for the Protection of Animals’ (WSPA) vets, showcasing the variety of experiences available to those diverse individuals who embrace animal welfare as key to responsible practice.

vets@wspa-international.orgwww.wspa-international.org

About WsPAThe World Society for the Protection of Animals brings about change to benefit animals ranging from local improvements in the treatment of working and companion animals to national agreements that animals’ needs must be respected.

We prevent animal suffering by running and supporting effective campaigns; carrying out projects that are based on and add to sound science; making education central to what we do; and working with a wide range of partners.

With our partner organisations, governments and international agencies we are leaders in preparing for and responding to disasters, ensuring that the animals which are so vital for community recovery are not forgotten.

In partnership with the world’s largest alliance of animal welfare organisations we seek to achieve our vision: a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty ends.

Our work is recognised by the United Nations and Council of Europe.

WSPA believes that adequate opportunities to educate the veterinary community in animal welfare concepts and the ethical and moral responsibilities that follow are essential. Our vets actively participate in enhancing veterinary education provision, and the presence of these experts on our staff ensures that WSPA’s work remains relevant, professional and credible.