International collaboration promotes Animal Welfare through Veterinary Education, in China

Society increasingly expects veterinarians to ensure that animals used for food, companionship or research are healthy and managed humanely. It is understood that international standards of animal welfare are vital to public health, animal disease management and the economic role of animals in society, and this requires dynamic and progressive teaching techniques.

To this end, the JMICAWE in partnership with Animal Asia and Nanjing Agricultural University delivered a three day conference for academics from leading Veterinary Universities across China. The conference highlighted the need for skills in critical thinking and evidence-based veterinary medicine, and utilised creative, problem-based teaching techniques to engage lecturers. We also shared international standards of best practice in veterinary education and promoted the integration of new innovative approaches and technologies into veterinary teaching.

By encouraging the development of analytical skills and creative solutions to current animal welfare issues in veterinary education, JMICAWE aims to highlight the international importance of animal welfare in the veterinary curriculum, and promote integrated themes of practical animal welfare, and appropriate animal use in veterinary teaching.

Following on from this meeting, students from the NAU had the unique opportunity to experience international training in surgery, anaesthesia and dog population management delivered by veterinary experts from the JMICAWE and Animals Asia through a collaborative programme with the Nanjing Public Security Bureau (Nanjing PSB).

It is hoped that this collaborative programme will continue to promote practical training in key analytical, problem-solving and advanced clinical veterinary skills in the future, resulting in veterinarians being better equipped to work in an increasingly global profession.

Improving links between India and Edinburgh

Professor Nat Waran is excited to be travelling to Kochi today, to attend the International VetEd Conference which is focusing on Developing and Embedding a Problem Based Learning Approach in Veterinary Curriculums. The Conference is held in Kochin on 26 and 27 April 2013, and is a collaborative effort between the University of Edinburgh and the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU).

Professor Waran, from the JMICAWE will be giving presentations on ‘Future proofing veterinary education’ and also another one on ‘The use of animals in teaching and research’ to the delegates of the conference, which include many Deans and Professors from 18 Veterinary Colleges within India.

For those who wish to attend please email veteducon@gmail.com or visit www.kvasu.ac.in.

The University of Edinburgh are also delighted that Professor Waran will be available to meet Dr Ashok, the KVASU Vice Chancellor, to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Agreement, which has come about after a year long programme of work funded through the British Council’s Higher Education Knowledge Partnership scheme, to help build collaborative relationships between UK and Indian universities. This MoU is a continuation of this one year long project – which is to develop further areas of collaboration including production animal health and welfare, teaching early clinical skills using animal alternatives and computer based learning tools and developing links with wildlife medicine and management.

Animal Welfare Science and Conservation Medicine teaching and research are strength areas for the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. For example, The Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education, under the directorship of Professor Nat Waran, is a unique facility which is described as a hub of expertise on animal welfare education, collaborating with international partners to advance understanding of animal welfare issues, and has an important role in improving the quality of life for animals through providing information and guidance on education and training in relation to animal welfare, for up-skilling the veterinary profession. Whilst The Exotic Animal and Wildlife Centre, under the leadership of Dr Anna Meredith is a Centre of expertise on conservation medicine and wildlife health and welfare.  

It is hoped that this MoU will provide both parties with opportunities for student and staff exchange for research and teaching and to help develop expertise in these areas in Kerala.

Further information on both the JMICAWE and Wildlife & Conservation Medicine are available on www.ed.ac.uk/vet .

KVASU to sign pact with University of Edinburgh - The Hindu

Following on from three very successful workshops in Kerala, the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) will sign an MOU with the University of Edinburgh, U.K., on wildlife studies.

As part of the pact the KVASU in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh (UoE) and the British Council India will organise an international workshop in Kochi from April 26 to April 27 to promote problem-based learning approach in veterinary science in the country.

Problem-based learning (PBL) was emerging as one of the important areas of learning, said T.P. Sethumadhavan of Directorate of Entrepreneurship, KVASU. The university would play a proactive role in promoting this concept, he said. Around 40 delegates comprising vice-chancellors and deans of various veterinary universities in the country will attend the workshop.

As a part of the collaborative programme with the Jeanne Marching International Centre for Animal Welfare Education (JMICAWE) at the University of Edinburgh, the KVASU, will act as a facilitator for implementing problem based learning in the country, which will be one of the initial ventures in this sector.

Professor Natalie Waran, Director of Jeanne Marching International Centre for Animal Welfare Education at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary studies of University of Edinburgh, is the project coordinator.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/kvasu-to-sign-pact-with-university-of-edinburgh/article4613449.ece

Latest veterinary techniques set to spread through China

Academics responsible for training China’s vets have been armed with the latest technologies and techniques at an educational workshop held this week at China’s Nanjing Agricultural University.

The workshop is part of an ongoing programme of events that have been put together by the University of Edinburgh and Animals Asia. The workshop was held in partnership with Nanjing Agricultural University, the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association and the Nanjing Public Security Bureau.

The Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education (JMICAWE) of the University of Edinburgh, is a hub of expertise on animal welfare science in education and research, collaborating with international partners to advance understanding of animal welfare issues. Animals Asia is an animal welfare organisation working to improve the welfare of animals in China and Vietnam.

The event will share international standards of best practice in veterinary education and promote the integration of innovative new approaches and technologies into veterinary teaching.

Following the event, a second workshop aimed at veterinary students at the Nanjing Agricultural University will provide training in surgery, anaesthesia and dog population management by veterinary experts from the University of Edinburgh and Animals Asia through a collaborative programme with the Nanjing Public Security Bureau.

This forum will promote practical training in key analytical, problem-solving and advanced clinical veterinary skills, helping to better equip veterinarians with the skills needed to work in an increasingly global profession and to deal practically with welfare issues such as rabies and dog population management without resorting to inhumane or ineffective practices.

Heather Bacon of the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education (JMICAWE) of the University of Edinburgh commented:

“Society increasingly expects veterinarians to ensure that animals used for food, companionship or research are healthy and managed humanely. It is understood that international standards of animal welfare are vital to public health, animal disease management and the economic role of animals in society. The public expects the veterinary profession to take a leading role in promoting respect for animals in a harmonious society.”

http://www.animalsasia.org/index.php?UID=9EIQ8TMW5WZ

China-Edinburgh link to boost veterinary care and animal welfare

The role that vets in China can play in safeguarding animal welfare will be strengthened by an agreement enhancing the country's veterinary training.

The University of Edinburgh has signed an agreement with the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) that will see both parties collaborate on innovative veterinary research and educational programmes.

The agreement - the first between the CVMA and a UK university - will also seek to promote and strengthen the role of the vet in China, particularly in the area of animal welfare.

Prof Natalie Waran, Jeanne Marchig Professor of Animal Welfare Education at the University of Edinburgh, said: "This historic agreement, which draws upon the University of Edinburgh's expertise in animal health and welfare research, will promote and support the development of continuing veterinary education in China.

"Along with the CVMA, we hope to develop dynamic educational expertise to enhance veterinary education - not only training Chinese veterinarians to meet the challenges of a changing and globalised profession, but also promoting animal welfare in the veterinary curriculum to ensure public safety and reduce epidemics."

The agreement forms part of a collaboration between the CVMA and the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education, which opened in 2011 and is part of the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

The collaboration also aims to promote and support innovation in postgraduate veterinary education in China. It will also draw upon expertise in international animal welfare from the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare.

The centre's researchers collaborate with international partners to advance understanding of animal welfare issues, and aim to facilitate the highest standards of animal welfare training through collaboration with professional bodies and other academic institutions around the world.

http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2013/chinavet-041013 

The Brooke Animal Charity gains new Trustee

It is with pleasure that we can announce that Natalie Waran, Director of the JMICAWE has been appointed as a Trustee of the Brooke Animal Charity.

The Brooke's vision is of a world in which working horses, donkeys and mules are free from suffering. They work towards this through direct veterinary treatment, community programmes around animal health and well-being, research and education.

The veterinary approach is based on supporting the provision of preventative and treatment services to working horses and donkeys, both in the short-term and long-term. They promote the importance of an evidence based approach,  and they are keen to ensure that improvements to the welfare of working equids are based on the best available qualitative and quantitative evidence. They focus their longer term work on community development and they apply learning methods that have been used successfully in a human health and development context.

Surgical Dog Sterilisation Skills Training in Bosnia

A recent survey has estimated there are in excess of 11,000 stray dogs in the City of Sarajevo alone. Surgical sterilisation is important for the welfare of individual owned dogs and as key part of dog population management. There is also an increasing demand for surgical sterilisation as more owners recognise the health benefits of neutering and see it as a key part of responsible dog ownership. This course run in partnership between the Veterinary Faculty, Sarajevo, and Dogs Trust BH aims to give participants the practical skills they need to be able to competently and confidently neuter dogs independently. The course has three aims:

• The first is to up skill Veterinary Surgeons, giving them practical surgical skills to neuter a dog, which also provides transferable skills that the surgeon can apply to other procedures eg exploratory laparotomy
• The second is to understand the welfare around the care of patients before, during and after surgery and in becoming confident in the use of General Anesthetics available in Bosnia-Herzegovina
• The third is to develop an understanding of the veterinary profession’s role in responsible dog ownership and dog population management

The seven-day course is highly practical with tutorials on key topics and it is taught by a combination of Bosnian and British veterinary surgeons. Congratulations to Hayley Walters, one of the JMICAWE team and an anesthesia nurse at The Dick Vet Hospital who went out for 2 of the courses, to help establish the training clinics and assist the Dogs Trust teams, so that they are now confident to go on and train more Bosnia vets with these clinical skills.

Fore more information, please visit Dogs Trust website or email ApplicationVFSDT@gmail.com.

ISES Conference 2013

"Embracing Science to Enhance Equine Welfare and Horse-Human Interactions"

International Society for Equitation Science, 9th Annual Conference

The University of Delaware, Newark, DELAWARE. USA

18th, 19th & 20th July 2013

The International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) announces the 9th annual conference with the theme of "Embracing Science to Enhance Equine Welfare and Horse-Human Interactions" to be hosted jointly by the University of Delaware and the University of Pennsylvania, United States of America on the 18th – 20th July, 2013.
This premier event will allow over 200 equine scientists, veterinarians, applied ethologists, advanced practitioners (horse-trainers, instructors & riders), advanced students pursuing equine science degrees and influential stakeholders in the equine industry to come together to present and discuss research related to the field of equitation science. It will focus on ways of improving horse training as well as encouraging the development of science-based criteria to measure the welfare of the horse in its interactions with humans.

The conference will be opened by Camie Heleski, PhD, who is a leading expert in Equitation Science and Instructor and Coordinator of the 2-year Ag Tech Horse Management Program at Michigan State University. Heleski has been involved with ISES from its conception in 2005 to ISES becoming an official society in 2007; continuing to serve as an ISES Council Officer and in the role of Co-chair for this year’s conference. Heleski has conducted work in learning theory with both horses and donkeys and is passionate about her work specializing in working equids in developing parts of the world. "Our overarching theme for the 2013 ISES conference is ‘Embracing science to enhance horse-human interactions’. I am especially excited about one of our sub-themes ‘getting the message out about equitation science and learning theory’ – in other words, how can we capitalize on outreach and education methods to inform people about the value and importance of equitation science. Whilst conducting the research is extremely important, we must also make sure we get information to the stake holders at the front line of the horse industry". – Camie Heleski, PhD.

Keynote speakers for the 9th International Society for Equitation Science Conference include:
 Professor Hilary Clayton - Research on the Rider-Saddle-Horse Interface
 Professor Jan Ladewig - What about the other 23 hours? How does what we do during the other hours when we are not training impact behavior and welfare?
 Andrew McLean, PhD & Professor Paul McGreevy - Arousal, affective state and attachment

Practical demonstrations will take place during the 2013 ISES Conference Practical Day which will be held at the New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania. Themes for the Practical Day include:
 Is it Physical? Psychological? Or both?
 Development of the Equid Ethogram
 Applied Learning Theory
 Fair Training Practices in Action

Professor Sue McDonnell is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Head of the Equine Behavior Program at the University of Pennsylvania, New Bolton Center. McDonnell will deliver a presentation on the development of the equid ethogram and host a tour of the semi-feral pony herd; Angelo Telatin is an Assistant Professor at Delaware Valley College. Telatin will demonstrate how riding and handling horses can be enhanced when integrated with the knowledge of learning theory, by jumping a horse bridleless and showing how tasks such as clipping and giving a horse injections can be simplified by giving the horse a choice to perform a desired behavior.

Throughout the ISES Conference delegates will have ample opportunities to:
 Connect and network with ISES members during breaks, poster discussions and dinners in order to exchange ideas and foster research cooperation;
 Seek guidance with the application of the principles and practices of equitation science for individuals own equestrian practices;
 Attend clinics conducted by equine behaviorists and practicioners demonstrating practical equitation that is in line with scientific principles of training and learning;
 Discuss strategies to enhance the cooperation between scientists, animal welfare activists and equestrian riders, trainers, coaches, industry and government representatives and international leaders in sport across the sector.

Email: ISESconference2013@equitationscience.com

ISESconference2013@equitationscience.com

http://www.equitationscience.com/upcoming

Our inspirational trip to Animals Asia' s Centre in Chengdu

A blog by 2 of our MSc AABAW graduates - thanks to Jessa & Faye

Our two months in China was an extremely unique experience that we are so glad to have had the opportunity of. Not only were we able to do our own original behavioural research, we also spent time in the wonderful company of the staff and the bears at the Animals Asia Moon Bear Rescue Centre in Chengdu- amazing people and animals.

We learnt of the bear`s horrible pasts in the bear bile farm industry and saw with our own eyes not only the scars from their suffering, but also the remarkable improvement and recovery they achieved, both physically and mentally, at the sanctuary – a sight that can`t but make you smile through the tears, to see these tortured bears so well recovered and happy – playing with each other, splashing in the water and sleeping peacefully, never again to suffer as they did in the past. We experienced first-hand the daily routine of vets and bear house managers in providing the animals with not only health care, food and water, but also an ever changing, always stimulating schedule of environmental enrichment.

The bears are stimulated to actively forage and engage with their environment and fellow bears, rehabilitating body and mind from the confinement and boredom they experienced for years, sometimes decades. For us, it was inspirational and rewarding work, knowing these tortured bears have nothing else to fear for the rest of their days. We can now only do our best in supporting Animals Asia in their quest to free more of the 10,000 moon bears currently in bile farms in China, by raising awareness about the bile farming practice and inspiring donations to the foundation. We mourn every rescued bear that dies at the centre and ask them to “please look upon the others, give them promise of hope soon, and tell them to be patient and proudly wear the moon”.

Welfare standards of food served in The University of Edinburgh’s Canteens

A Blog Posting from student – Mary Baxter

Listening to Sean Wensley give his talk on ‘The Vets Role in Improving Animal Welfare’ was one of those brilliant moments where he might as well have been describing my feelings going into the veterinary world.

The focus on economics and productivity, and the repeated presence of oxymorons such as the ‘problem of broodiness’, bothered me throughout my undergrad. Sean highlighted the self-confessed gap of many vets in their ability to accurately assess or understand animal welfare, and that inaction when presented with potentially welfare damaging scenarios, such as sending an animal to a slaughter house where it will not be stunned, is often interpreted as tacit acceptance.

In the question and answer session following the lecture, conversation turned to the consumer’s role in choosing higher welfare food and how, in a talk Sean had given, the students were very keen not to source pizza containing meat that may have come from an animal that had not been stunned. I realised that, as an Edinburgh University student, I had no idea about the provenance of the food served in the University’s canteen.

But, surely, as Edinburgh is so well known for its welfare education, the food served here would be from the highest possible sources? I decided to find out and began emailing people I hoped would be able to point me in the right direction. I got in touch with the kitchens manager, assistant director of catering at Edinburgh and Campbell Brothers (who supply meat to the University) to find out the welfare standards of the food offered. Everyone was very helpful and I was able to establish that all eggs are free range and the meat provided is produced under the Red Tractor Assurance Scheme. When I asked if there were any plans to improve these standards, as the Red Tractor Scheme holds the lowest welfare standards above legal minimums, it was confirmed that there are currently no plans to source meat from higher welfare farms. The reasons given were a mix of economics, the University’s reluctance to support one lobbying group (i.e. Soil Association) and the bafflingly complicated world of contracting authorities and the legal block on discriminating against one meat supplier over another on grounds of higher welfare.

Edinburgh University has already made giant leaps in meat and animal product procurement and is the only University to have been awarded a Bronze Food for Life Catering Mark. As a forerunner in welfare education and with over 19,000 undergraduate students alone, Edinburgh University represents a huge consumer force. As part of that consumer force, we have a unique opportunity to pull together and initiate change. The change may take a long time to push through, but registering our interest in higher welfare food at the University, and steering clear of a perceived tacit acceptance, is the first step in setting all the cogs in motion.

Animal Ethics Policy and Law

We are delighted that our MSc IAWEL team and IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) are working together to provide current information for the online students studying the Animal Ethics Policy and Law course which is part of the online Masters in International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law programme (MSc IAWEL).

Protection for elephants, or is it just an elaborate sham? That’s one such question that students may be addressing in their MScIAWEL presentations this week, after trucks transporting four young elephants were intercepted while transferring the calves to a “rehabilitation” centre last week. According to a report by South Africa’s National Council of SPCA’s the elephants had been removed from their wild herds, because their mothers were to be shot at one of South Africa’s most infamous hunting ranches in North West Province.

“Do conservation officials actually know what their responsibilities to elephants are, and do they even care?” says Jason Bell, Director for the IFAW Elephant Programme ( www.ifaw.org). Someone issued permits for these calves to be removed and transported – entirely contrary to the Norms and Standards for the Management of Elephants in South Africa which says wild elephant calves may not be removed from their herds as a result of their mothers being identified for hunting. IFAW called on the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs to look into this as a matter of urgency, reminding  them that there is legislation in place to protect elephants from cruelty and exploitation, and that it needs to be observed.

Our MSc IAWEL students will be giving online presentations, to Dr Fritha Langford of the MSc IAWEL and Paul Todd, Dr Jason Bell and Cindy Milburn from IFAW.

The students are presenting their research and potential solutions to a variety of issues surrounding the welfare, conservation and use of elephants including:

• The legislative frameworks surrounding wild animals in different countries
• The key policy drivers in regions with elephants and regions where ivory products are retailed
• The potential conflicts between welfare and conservation of elephants
• Risks from over-population of elephants in fragmented habitats
• The ethics of ‘sustainable’ culling of elephants

Having three senior members of IFAW available to give feedback to students, is a real honour for this programme and a fabulous opportunity for the students.

 

 

Controlling companion animal populations in developing nations

Companion animal populations can be particularly problematic in developing countries where public policy and education about the issues is often sparse. Many of these nations have a dog and cat over-population issue that requires sensitive management, especially as they also derive significant income from tourism. In this regard the pacific island nations are no exception. Following on from an article about public perception of dogs in (independent) Samoa, recently published in Animal Welfare, Mark Farnworth, a PhD student supervised by JMICAWEs Prof Nat Waran, investigated how tourists perceive the problem of free-roaming dogs during their visits to the Samoan islands (Mark worked in collaboration with Massey University and Uppsala University).

The earlier study demonstrated that, although the Samoan people identified dogs as important for society, little was done to control the population. This led to welfare issues as humans and dogs clashed, including a high rate of dog bite injuries and reports of harm inflicted upon dogs. As a result, most Samoans felt something needed to be done. Their second study, not yet published, looked at tourism as Samoa's number one industry. It investigated how the attitudes of tourists may align with those of locals and where problems could arise. Many tourists felt the dogs in Samoa were a problem requiring management and many also felt that the dogs had a negative influence on their enjoyment of the holiday. Some had experienced aggression and even attacks from free-roaming dogs. Importantly however, tourists were extremely averse to management which had a negative welfare impact and strongly supported humane options including legislation and sterilisation campaigns.

This body of work supports the idea that more investment should be made in controlling companion animal populations in developing nations and areas dependent on tourism may be particularly amenable to change. Effective and welfare friendly methods may not only improve the experiences of tourists but may boost the economy. Likewise effective management, health care and education may reduce dog bite injuries and zoonotic disease transfer and improve the overall well-being of the local population, dogs and people alike.

If you wish to contact Mark for further information, please visit www.ed.ac.uk/vet/jmicawe

Thanks to http://lindsay-meyer.com/ for use of image of stray dogs on beach

Vietnam aims to strengthen animal welfare in veterinary education, research and practice.

Last week, JMICAWE vet Heather Bacon travelled to Hanoi, Vietnam to participate in an animal welfare training event. Hosted by the Hanoi University of Agriculture and sponsored by WSPA and Animals Asia, the two-day meeting showcased the extensive efforts being generated across Vietnam to strengthen animal welfare in veterinary education, research and practice.

Topics were varied, including a range of subjects from farm animal welfare assessment, wildlife trade issues and animal welfare in aquaculture. Heather presented on captive wildlife welfare issues, a significant problem in Vietnam, where a thriving illegal wildlife trade exists alongside a range of small zoos, circuses and government-run wildlife centres, which all present a vast range of challenges to good animal welfare.

The workshop also included several field trips comprising visits to local veterinary clinics, a pig farm, and dog slaughter market. Dog meat is widely consumed in Vietnam and dogs are traded from Thailand to supply the consumption market. There are at present no humane farming or slaughter methods of dogs for human consumption.

The programme ended with a commitment from the Hanoi University of Agriculture to continue to support and develop research in animal welfare, to improve the lives of production animals across Vietnam. The JMICAWE looks forward to continuing collaboration to support these developments.

A successful 3rd workshop in India

Successful third workshop on Companion Animal Welfare held in India

JMICAWE’s Director, Prof Natalie Waran; Veterinarian and JMICAWE Outreach Manager, Heather Bacon and Welfare Veterinary Nurse, Hayley Walters, have just returned from Kerala after having delivered a week long companion animal welfare workshop for Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University Faculty members.

This is the last of the three workshops provided by The University of Edinburgh with the support of the British Council’s Knowledge Economy Partnership Scheme.

15 members of the Kerala clinical teaching team from two campuses attended the workshop, during which they learned about how to utilize a problem based learning approach to deliver teaching in the area of companion animal welfare, welfare assessment, shelter medicine and clinical skills development.

The Edinburgh team took a variety of animal alternatives with them, including manikins designed for enabling students to practice their suturing, catheter placement and blood-taking skills as well as on-line teaching resources for teaching physiological, pharmacological and anatomical course content without the need for live animals.

The team was delighted to be accompanied by Ruth DeVere, Head of Education for the World Society for the Protection of  Animals who was keen to learn more about the work of the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education in India, as well as to explore ways to collaborate in future.

The KVASU Vice Chancellor, Dr Ashok and senior colleagues at the University will be hosting the final symposium later this spring to show-case the way in which the programme has helped with capacity building and up-skilling their staff in innovative and student-centred approaches to teaching, as well as embedding animal welfare and ethics into their curriculum.