Volunteers praised for equine welfare work
Swansea Castration and Healthcare Clinic Volunteers.
The tireless efforts of equine vets and veterinary nurses have been recognised as part of a UK-wide celebration.
The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has backed Volunteers Week (1-7 June) by praising members who gave up their time and knowledge in support of BEVA Trusts’ new focus.
Over the past 12 months, more than 42 vets and vet nurses volunteered at seven BHS Education and Welfare Clinics across the UK. Working with horses recognised by Welfare officers as needing help, the volunteers assisted with microchipping, passports, vaccinations and castrations.
To date a total of 598 horses and ponies have received passports and 302 have been castrated. The Trust has also seen a further ten volunteers travel across the globe, working on projects in Honduras, Cambodia, the Gambia, Kiev, Nicaragua and the Ukraine.
BEVA President Vicki Nicholls commented: “We thank all of the volunteers that make our Trust such a success, with special mention to Luke Edwards from the University of Liverpool and Alice Horne from Ddole Road Veterinary Clinic who have both volunteered at four clinics.
“We must also remember the good work of our industrious BEVA Council members and our excellent speakers at Congress this September, who are all volunteers.”
Volunteers Week is an annual celebration of the incredible work of volunteers across the UK.
The BEVA Trust is the Association’s philanthropic arm and in 2015 members decided that it should provide support support for voluntary projects to help improve welfare and knowledge. Since then, volunteers have been rolling up their sleeves in the UK and veterinary training schemes around the globe.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
