Introducing Professor David Dewhurst – JMICAWE Professorial fellow for animal alternatives in teaching.

As Professor of e-Learning and Director of Educational Information Services in the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, David was appointed as the Jeanne Marchig Professorial Fellow of Replacement Alternatives in Higher Education in 2010.  Although extremely busy with his University wide role in developing e –learning capability, David is frequently invited to present at international conferences describing the research work he and his colleagues have carried out on the approaches to and the measurement of the impact of the use of alternatives to animals for teaching medical undergraduates.  As a member of the governing council for the Mahatma Gandhi-Doerenkamp Center for Alternatives to Use of Animals in Life Science Education, based in Tamil Nadu, India, he has been involved in promoting the use of alternatives to animal use in teaching and research. Recently, he was one of two main speakers at a series of workshops held within a number of Indian Medical Schools. The other main speaker being Dr John Pavlowski from Harvard Medical School who talked about human patient simulation. David recent paper entitled ‘ Is animal free teaching in the life sciences better teaching?’ will shortly be published in Alternatives to Animal Experimentation (ALTEX) 29, Special Issue 2912 Proceedings of WC8 pp3-6 (in press).

‘Genetically Altered Animals & the 3Rs’ Meeting

Often a controversial subject, the use and management of laboratory animals is nonetheless something which is essential to engage with, in order to promote constructive dialogue around this topic.

Recognising this, The RSPCA has brought its 3rd meeting on the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction principles applied to Genetically Altered Animals, north of the Border for the first time. This meeting, jointly hosted by the RSPCA, the Laboratory Science Association and the Institute of Animal Technicians, brings together interested parties to engage with and discuss, welfare issues relating to the production and management of genetically altered animals in a laboratory setting.

Delegates attended from research institutions in both England and Scotland, and topics discussed included the production and justification for production of such animals and how this could be minimised utilising techniques such as cryopreservation, The biosecurity, health, breeding and husbandry of genetically altered rodents, and assessment of end of life criteria. The need for more consistent terminology when describing physical problems, and the acknowledgement of behavioural issues that may be associated with 'knock-out' mice and which may need separate consideration in terms of quality of life. The speakers also discussed refinements such as non-surgical embryo-transfer techniques that negate the need for anaesthesia or surgery, and the importance of high standards of asepsis, anaesthesia and analgesia during surgical procedures.

Whilst the use of animals in laboratory research is often difficult and emotive, it was gratifying to see the partnering of NGO and industry experts to deliver consistent messages regarding our responsibilities to animal welfare.

For more information on the use of animals in laboratory research, see the RSPCA website:
http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/laboratory

Dr Appleby made an Honorary Fellow

International animal welfare expert made an Honorary Fellow of the R(D)SVS,  JMICAWE.

JMICAWE staff are delighted to announce that Dr Michael C Appleby will be joining them as their first Honorary Fellow.

Born in Edinburgh, Mike studied Zoology at Bristol University and completed his Ph.D. in Animal Behaviour at Cambridge. He then carried out research and teaching on farm animal management and welfare at the Poultry Research Centre (now Roslin Institute) and then as senior lecturer in applied animal behaviour at the University of Edinburgh. Mike was among the group of welfare scientists who helped develop the Masters in Applied animal behaviour and animal welfare, now 22 years old and still going strong. Amongst the many important areas of animal welfare research he has been involved with, he also carried out work that led to the development of the Edinburgh modified cage for laying hens, setting the foundations for the recent EU move to enriched cages for layer birds. In 2001, he moved to the US to take up the position of Vice President of The Humane Society of the United States and head of Farm Animals and Sustainable Agriculture.  Mike is now the chief scientific adviser for the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), and is also a member of the Scientific Committee of Humane Farm Animal Care and the Animal Compassionate Committee of Whole Foods Market in the USA and of the UK's Farm Animal Welfare Committee.

We are extremely pleased to be able to draw upon Mike’s considerable expertise and we look forward to welcoming him back into the University.

Exciting partnership formed with Kerala University (KVASU)

Exciting knowledge economy partnership formed with the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) in South India.

The JMICAWE in collaboration with the KVASU and with funding from the
British Council, India Division will conduct a one year long collaborative
project aimed at strengthening the quality of veterinary teaching and
building capacity in the delivery of animal welfare training within the
curriculum. Three workshops will be developed and delivered to KVASU faculty staff to demonstrate how through a problem based learning approach, subjects such as animal welfare science and ethics can be incorporated into existing courses. Professor Natalie Waran, Director of the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education says, 'this is an exciting opportunity to help develop veterinary teaching of animal welfare and we very much look forward to working with our colleagues in India to achieve greater awareness of the global importance of animal welfare science and the essential role of the veterinarian in this area'.

Online MSc International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law - now open for applications for Sept 2012!

We are delighted to introduce a unique new online MSc/Dip/Cert in International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law which starts in September 2012 providing a high quality educational experience entirely by online distance learning. The aim of the programme is to provide knowledge and an understanding of animal welfare science, with a focus on the international issues arising from animal use in all its forms. We will offer students the chance to learn about: scientific concepts of animal welfare; methods of animal welfare assessment; animal ethics and social responsibility; policy, legislation, regulation and enforcement. Additionally, there will be courses offered on key areas in applied animal welfare such as the welfare of production animals, companion animals, research animals and captive wild animals. For more information please see the website: http://www.ed.ac.uk/vet/international-animal-welfare or to apply please visit http://bit.ly/MSc-int-animal-welfare

Chinese doctors to call for ‘cruel’ bear farms to be closed

At a conference in London on Friday, the experts will say there is no justification for the farms because their latest research has shown that that herbal substitutes have greater health benefits than those claimed for bear bile which is used in traditional Chinese medicine.

The rare public criticism of ‘bile farms’ by traditional Chinese medicine experts will be led by Dr Yibin Feng, an associate professor and assistant director at the School of Chinese Medicine at the University of Hong Kong.

He will unveil new research showing that the bears’ suffering on the farms is “unnecessary” and will call for the farms to be closed down.

“Bears are being inhumanely treated and bear farming must end in the near future,” Dr Feng will tell the conference in Westminster.

“Our research provides evidence that other easily available animal bile and plants can be used as bear bile substitutes.”


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/8727071/Chinese-doctors-to-call-for-cruel-bear-farms-to-be-closed.html

1st FAO Global Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Animal Welfare

As we know animal welfare is an increasingly global issue. This has been recognised by many organisations, academics and institutions in many countries and for the first time the Food and Agriculture organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has brought together experts in animal welfare from around the world for the 1st FAO Global Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Animal Welfare. Speakers from the UK, Europe, Africa and North and South America all contributed presentations on a range of issues from grassroots working equine welfare, to farm assurance schemes and changes in legislation.

Delegates from as far afield as Hong Kong, Suriname and South Africa attended the meeting to share experiences and idea particularly with regard to assessment methodologies of animal welfare across different species, and development and application of policies on best practice. Dr Adroaldo Zanella from the Scottish Agricultural College, one of our partners in Education and Research, presented on the EU Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) project which unites experts from across Europe to determine practical indicators of pain and poor welfare across a range of species.

As a multi-stakeholder forum, attendees comprised NGOs, producers, academics and activists, and it was heartening to see the common desire across all sectors to work together to improving animal welfare around the globe.


http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/themes/animal-welfare/aw-events/events-detail/en/?dyna_fef[uid]=116454

DEFRA announces plans to ban wild animals in circuses

The Government has confirmed its intention to pursue a ban on the use performing wild animals in travelling circuses in England on ethical grounds. However, this will take time. So Defra has also published a consultation in which we propose establishing a licensing scheme to protect the welfare of such animals in the meantime.

As we develop the details and legislative framework for the ban, the welfare of those wild animals currently in circuses is paramount, and for this reason we are consulting on a tough new licensing regime which we can put in place promptly.

For the licensing scheme, we intend to use powers that are already available in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. This will allow us to make sure the welfare-based licensing scheme is considered by Parliament before it rises for the summer.

A public consultation exercise was launched on 1 March 2012 seeking views on Defra’s proposals to introduce a licensing scheme for travelling circuses in England that still use wild animals. Anyone responsible for a travelling circus that uses wild animals in a circus performance will need to hold a valid licence, meet strict welfare standards, prepare and follow plans for caring for every animal and have a retirement plan for each animal.

•Written Ministerial Statement (1 March 2012) setting out the Government’s position (PDF)
•Consultation on the proposed licensing scheme and how to respond
Responses to the consultation must be received by 25 April 2012.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/03/01/circus-animals-1203/

CAWC Conference - 21 April 2012

The First CAWC Animal Welfare Conference: 21 April 2012
Share this post with your friends and colleagues...The College of Animal Welfare is proud to be hosting the first CAWC Animal Welfare Conference on Saturday 21 April 2012 at its new education and conference centre in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire!

CAWC, the Companion Animal Welfare Council, was launched in 1999 and was set up “to conduct independent studies into the welfare, care and treatment of companion animals and their role within society.” These studies have served as a foundation for the Council’s role as providers of specialist advice to organisations, institutions and Government.

The Conference is composed of a series of lectures and open forums and will be introduced by CAWC Chairman Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior. A number of distinguished speakers will be providing viewpoints on a wide range of animal welfare topics.

Professor Sheila Crispin FRCVS and Mr Peter Scott FRCVS will cover ethical issues pertaining to the keeping of small animals and exotics. Mr Peter C Jinman OBE MRCVS will explore large animal ownership, and will discuss the latest issues facing pet insurance in modern veterinary practice in an open forum with a number of the other expert speakers.

Mr Neil Forbes MRCVS will talk about problems that occur when people make bad choices in pet ownership. Professor Sir Colin Spedding CBE will chair the afternoon open forum, consisting of a discussion on education of the public in animal welfare issues.

An agenda and booking form can be found by contacting Deborah Gould at The College of Animal Welfare on 0844 372 9410.

Innovative Canine Health Project

Morris Animal Foundation Launches Innovative Canine Health Project
Veterinarians Invited to Participate in Largest and Longest Observational Study Ever Undertaken to Advance Veterinary Medicine
Morris Animal Foundation recently launched the Canine Lifetime Health Project, a groundbreaking effort to manage studies to identify new methods for the prevention and treatment of canine diseases. The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, the first study under the project’s umbrella, will be the largest and longest observational study ever undertaken to improve the health of dogs. Dog owners will partner with their veterinarians to supply the necessary health information and samples needed for study participation.
Morris Animal Foundation will begin recruiting up to 3,000 highly committed Golden Retriever owners this spring. Golden Retrievers under 2 years of age will be observed for 10 to 14 years to identify genetic, environmental and nutritional risk factors for the development of cancer and other diseases.
Before study recruitment begins, Morris Animal Foundation invites veterinarians to register for the Canine Lifetime Health Project. By doing so, they will receive updates when the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study launches, notification of future studies and scientific updates as they become available. Veterinarians can also opt to be listed as a participating veterinarian in the study database for Golden Retriever owners searching for a local participating veterinarian.
If you would like additional information about this study, please visit the Morris Animal Foundation booth (No. 2328) at the Western Veterinary Conference, or if you would like a one-on-one interview, please email Nancy Clark, study participants coordinator, at nclark@MorrisAnimalFoundation.org.

McDonalds to take action on pig farmers

McDonald’s said it will get its pork suppliers to phase out the use of immobilizing cages for pregnant pigs, a move that was applauded by the Humane Society of the United States, but not the pork industry.

McDonalds - Pork

Heather Bacon talks to the Vet Record about her career

Heather Bacon’s work focuses on addressing the causes of welfare issues and promoting animal welfare education.

Heather Bacon is the veterinary welfare and outreach manager at the Jeanne
Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education at the R(D)SVS, Edinburgh. Here she outlines the role of the new centre, and how she got involved in influencing welfare worldwide.
THE UK has robust legal protection for the welfare of animals, and, on gaining membership of the RCVS, vets declare that ‘My constant endeavour will be to ensure the welfare of animals committed to my care’. But how many of us are really engaged with the vast spectrum of welfare issues, and how quickly does routine work swamp our enthusiasm for a subject that is central to our role and function as vets?
There is certainly a desire within our profession for accessing further animal welfare educational material. A recent explosion in postgraduate courses in animal welfare and behaviour has sprung up, and, here at Edinburgh, up to one-third of the students studying for the Masters in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare are veterinary graduates,indicating that,at least in part,most veterinary undergraduate courses are not yet meeting the needs of the profession in terms of delivering animal welfare education.
At the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies,a generous grant from Madame Jeanne Marchig, a longstanding campaigner in the field of animal welfare,has supported the founding of the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education (JMICAWE). Madame Marchig recognised the deficiency in animal welfare education experienced by many veterinary graduates and, in partnership with the Edinburgh vet school, has developed the first centre in Europe to focus on international veterinary welfare education. The role of the centre is diverse, its vision committed to improving the quality of life for all animals through education and training and by influencing policy both in the UK and overseas.My own involvement with the new centre came about as a result of experiences gained working abroad. Working overseas in unfamiliar cultures and tackling language barriers can be challenging, but after graduating from the University of Bristol – and inspired by the animal welfare teaching provided by John Webster – I had a hankering to use my skills overseas.At university and after graduating I undertook projects with free-ranging wildlife and working equids in Rwanda,the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia,but my first taste of Asia came in 2007, when I arrived at the Animals Asia Foundation’s bear rescue centre in the Sichuan province of China.Founded by Jill Robinson MBE in 1998, the foundation is a charity that works with the governments of China, Hong Kong and Vietnam to end the trade in bear parts and the farming of bears for bile, to end the consumption of cats and dogs, and to improve captive wildlife welfare across Asia (www.animalsasia.org).
The charity’s approach is constructive and collaborative. Its bear rescue centres in China and Vietnam are large employers of local people,and its education programmes,
which are run in cities across China, aim to raise awareness of the countless welfare issues faced by animals in Asia. As the charity’s veterinary director, my
role involved working with Chinese and Vietnamese colleagues, as well as the western
veterinary team, to coordinate rescues of bears (in extreme physical and mental distress)from bear bile farms; partnering with local animal shelters to provide veterinary advice and support throughout the rescues of hundreds of dogs traded for meat by unlicensed traders; and dealing with the immediate human and animal welfare issues generated by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. This provided me with an opportunity to gain an insight into the diverse cultural,social and economic factors that may influence animal welfare practice and policy in an international context, as well as the work being done by veterinary associations within China to develop clinical skills training.
Additional stints working in India and Indonesia with the charities Wildlife SOS and International Animal Rescue further exposed me to the deficiencies in veterinary clinical skills and animal welfare education faced by vets across the globe. Increasingly aware that my work overseas involved ‘fire-fighting’ these deficiencies, I was excited to accept the opportunity to work at the JMICAWE, supported by the Animals Asia Foundation. My role involves working within the vet
school, in the EU,and in India and China,and provides me with a unique opportunity
to bridge the gap between academic expertise and grassroots charities working on
veterinary welfare issues, as well as forging academic partnerships and encouraging curriculum development at institutions in China and India. Working on issues including rabies control, street dog and feral cat management,clinical skills teaching, humane euthanasia,captive wildlife management and animal alternatives in veterinary education and research, the centre provides a holistic hub of
expertise on a number of welfare challenges regularly faced by vets in the UK and overseas,and supports sustainable education on the topics of animal welfare science, ethics and law.On a global level, awareness of animal welfare issues is increasing, and I’m excited to be working in a role where I can make a positive contribution to the abilities of the vets dealing with these issues.
Further information - www.vetrecordcareers.com

Further information on JMICAWE is available on Twitter (@JMICAWE)
Jeanne Marchig Centre

National Seminar on One Health Initiative in Addressing Food Safety Challenges

Professor Natalie Waran, and Ms Heather Bacon (MRCVS)of the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies of The University of Edinburgh have prepared two videos for the National Seminar on One Health Initiative in Addressing Food Safety Challenges being held in Thrissur, Kerala.

One Health = One Welfare India Presentations

Use of Animals in Research - Conference - June 2012

The Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education (JMICAWE) in collaboration with the School of Law, Northumbria University, Newcastle is to run the following conference in June 2012:
Animal Welfare and the EU: Ethics, Law and Science in the Use of Animals in Research
at the School of Law, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne
on 14th and 15th June 2012 (with a public event on the evening of the 13th June).

New EU legislation (Directive 2010/63/EU) – which must be implemented in the UK by 2013 – has the potential to shape attitudes towards the use of animals in research.

This conference represents an important forum within which the issues raised by the Directive for ethics, law and science can be debated.