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New animal welfare module for students in China
The module teaches students about the relationship between humans and other animals.

Model teaches concepts such as sentience and ethics

Students in China can now study animal welfare thanks to a long-term project fronted by the RSPCA’s international team.

China’s Ministry of Education has published a new biology curriculum for secondary school students which includes the first-ever module on animal welfare. The module is the culmination of 10 years' work, led by the RSPCA, to encourage and support the development of an animal welfare component in science teaching across China.

“Incorporating animal welfare into China’s school curriculum represents a sea-change in the country’s attitudes to animals,” said RSPCA head of international, Paul Littlefair. “By introducing this new module, China’s Ministry of Education is acknowledging the widespread shift in the public’s views about how animals should be treated and is clearly signalling that animals deserve legal protection.”

The project began when the RSPCA was asked by leading Chinese academics to look at the existing biology curriculum standards and highlight areas which were not animal welfare-friendly. Following a survey of Chinese secondary school science students into attitudes towards animals, the charity supported the design and trialling in schools of an animal welfare module.

The module, which is now live, teaches students about the relationship between humans and other animals. It covers basic concepts such as sentience, assessing animal welfare, ethics and the welfare needs of pets, as well as farm, laboratory and wild animals.

“One of the RSPCA’s stated objectives in England and Wales is for animal welfare to be explicitly included in our own national curricula,” Mr Littlefair added. “Now China has beaten us to it, we hope that our education authorities will follow their lead so future generations continue to develop empathy for animals.”

Image (C) RSPCA

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.