Welfare focus for World Veterinary Day
Katie McConnell was inaugurated as BSAVA president at the association's congress in early April this year.
Each year, vets and nurses from around the world celebrate World Veterinary Day (WVD). It is a chance to inform the general public about the importance of the veterinary profession to both animals and society.
The theme this year is animal welfare. BSAVA president Katie McConnell says : "It is a lifelong commitment to animal welfare that drives vets and veterinary nurses on a daily basis."
She argues this commitment is shared by animal lovers and pet owners, so the theme "presents an umbrella under which we can bring together all those who share this passion."
WVD has taken place on the last Saturday of every April since it was initiated by the World Veterinary Association in 2000. Previous themes have included one health, rabies and vaccination.
Tying in with this year's theme, the WSAVA Foundation has launched the "African Small Companion Animal Network. The scheme aims to advance veterinary care standards across Africa by creating a network of companion animal vets, associations and specialist groups in sub-Saharan Africa.
Another project, WSAVA Global Outreach, hopes to share the knowledge and experience of WSAVA members more widely around the world.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
