Monday 30 April 2018

Bahrain Pet Expo


Donata Baars, an animal care professional working in Bahrain, writes:-


Bahrain is a small island country in the Middle East, attached to Saudi Arabia by a causeway. It is a thriving country that has grown immensely in the last 40 years on all fronts of its economy. The only thing that seems to be falling behind is the welfare of the many animals that Bahrain has. Indigenous, exotic, wild, owned and stray. But there is definitely progress; Bahrain is working hard on improving its animal welfare!

On Friday the 13th April, Bahrain held its very first PetExpo! It was the first time ever that an event was organized that was all about the welfare of animals in general and stray dogs in particular. On the main stage, important issues were discussed. There was the first time showing of the movie about Baloo, a rescue dog that turned into a therapy dog for autistic children. The vet that works very closely with the BSPCA (Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) talked about how to administer first aid to your pet when a veterinarian is not directly available.

Last but not least a discussion was held between animal welfare advocates about the situation of the stray dogs in Bahrain; how to reduce the stray dog population humanely, how to respond to a stray dog approaching you, the importance of spaying and neutering your pets, how to achieve a better human-dog interaction and much, much, more. As an animal care professional, I was invited to speak and represent a more scientific approach to stray dog management. With support from the JMICAWE team including Dr. Heather Bacon and VN Hayley Walters I was presenting an evidence-based approach to managing a stray dog population and the need for an on-going Catch-Neuter-Return programme. Heather and Hayley's knowledge and input was invaluable to having a meaningful discussion at the event. As a result a full feature article will be printed in next month’s Salaam Bahrain magazine!

Of course there were games, food sales and a shopping bazaar but they were also there to entice people to come and thus learn more about the welfare of animals. Not only were pet shops represented but also veterinary clinics and the local rescue groups that do so much in Bahrain for the welfare of the stray dogs.

Donata Baars



Thursday 26 April 2018

Welcome back, Hayley!

It's  - and it marks the return to work after maternity leave for our Vet Nurse, Hayley Walters. Welcome back, Hayley!



Hayley's son & dog

Friday 20 April 2018

Understanding the mind of the horse - Dr Helen Spence


Understanding the mind of the horse, with Dr Helen Spence

Ellie Girgis writes:

On the 21st February 2018, students and staff of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies gathered at Easter Bush Campus to hear Dr Helen Spence (an academic, and working Equine Behaviour and Training Consultant) explain her approach to understanding the mind of the horse.

Dr Spence explained the various emotional drivers and the underlying physiological processes which result in the outward displays of specific behaviours and expressions in our horses. Dr Spence impressed the importance of understanding these processes for both compassionate and effective handling and training. 

               Ellie Girgis (on left) with Dr Helen Spence


In association with the R(D)SVS Horse Society, with whom they jointly hosted Dr Spence, the Dick Vet Animal Behaviour Society expresses their sincere thanks to Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education for their generous sponsorship, without which this event would not have been possible!



Wednesday 18 April 2018

Dick Vet Behaviour & Nutrition Conference


Dick Vet Behaviour & Nutrition Conference

On Saturday 24th February, the Dick Vet Animal Behaviour Society and RDSVS Nutrition Society hosted their second joint Behaviour and Nutrition Conference. It was an excellent day, with 114 attendees consisting of students and staff from both the Dick Vet and Glasgow Vet School.

The day started early with breakfast before kicking off a full day of lectures on behaviour and nutrition topics.  Behaviour talks included:-
  • Training for Common Behaviour Problems with Dogs Trust Senior Behaviour and Training Adviser Alasdair Bunyan;
  • Aggression in Farm Species with R(D)SVS’ own Paul Wood; and 
  • How to Run a Behaviour Consult with University of Lincoln’s veterinary behaviourist Kevin McPeake.
Kevin McPeake


Nutrition talks covered:-
  • Dispelling Nutrition Myths with Royal Canin’s Hannah Poile;
  • The Power of Innovative Nutrition in Clinical Practice with Dick Vet graduate Emma Henton from Hill’s Pet Nutrition; and
  • Nutrition for Wildlife with Jess Crabtree from the Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue.

The day concluded with a wine and cheese reception which gave the delegates time to relax and chat with each other and with the guest speakers. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive and clearly showed the desire for more behaviour and nutrition teaching for vet students!


Tuesday 17 April 2018

Shuchorita Epik wins runner-up in BVBA Veterinary Student Award



Shuchorita Epik, an undergraduate student at R(D)SVS with a keen interest in animal behaviour, was recently awarded the runner-up prize for the BVBA Veterinary Student Award.

She wrote this piece about her experience collecting the award in Birmingham on 4th April.

-" Attending the BVBA Study Day last week was a rewarding and very humbling experience for me, 
and I’m incredibly grateful to Dr. Amy Miele and everyone at the BVBA for such a valuable opportunity.

The process of writing the essay for this award made me reflect upon how much I have been taught in the last few years to allow me to carry my previous experience in animal behaviour into a future career as a veterinary clinician, something which I had been concerned about upon making the decision to shift fields.

I felt inspired hearing so many accomplished speakers discuss behaviour in its absolutely relevant context within the realm of animal medicine—in an age where animal welfare and ethics are still met with such controversy, it was incredibly uplifting to sit in a room full of such dedicated professionals. 

This very engaging conference day has left me with a great motivational boost to continue pursuing a post-graduation career in which behavioural considerations can be at the forefront of all of my clinical endeavors".


Many congratulations to Shochorita on her success!

Monday 16 April 2018

Hayley Walters at BSAVA Congress 2018


JMICAWE vet nurse Hayley Walters recently spoke at BSAVA Congress in Birmingham. This is one of the biggest events on the veterinary calendar and is attended by vets and nurses from all over the world. Hayley gave two lectures: one on her experiences and challenges whilst working in developing nations; and the other on what to do if your patient’s welfare is compromised and your ethics are challenged. 

Her lectures were well received with many nurses coming up to speak to her afterwards. 

Hayley said, “It was such an honour to be able to speak at such a well respected event and I hope the vets and nurses at my lectures took away some really important information about how to improve their patient’s time in the clinic and what to expect when working in developing nations”. 


Hayley, along with JMICAWE's Veterinary Outreach Manager Heather Bacon, has been booked to speak again next year.