Vet Files - WSPA's Vets - Animal Mosaic

Ambassadors for animal welfare
Veterinary professionals play a key role in society; in
rural and urban settings, in the scientific community,
as educators and practitioners. Across the world,
veterinarians’ expert knowledge is sought and respected
by people with a range of relationships with animals:
farmers, owners, conservationists, and those working
towards better animal welfare.
Good animal welfare is an integral part of ensuring animal
health. An animal that is in good health is deemed to be fit and
able to cope physically and mentally with its environment, as
well as being able to display natural behaviours.
In turn, the safeguarding of good animal welfare is an integral
part of the role of the veterinary professional. Vets are uniquely
placed to impact on the lives of animals, directly and indirectly:
• in their roles as animal health professionals vets are
responsible for providing treatment and preventative
medicine, as well as being the first line of defence in
identifying poor welfare
• as advisers to owners as well as governments and
corporations, veterinary practitioners shape the
attitudes and behaviours of the multitudes. They are
the gateway to improved animal welfare.
Animal welfare can also broaden the horizons of trainee and
practising vets alike, offering exciting practice opportunities.
This brochure celebrates the work of some of the World
Society for the Protection of Animals’ (WSPA) vets. It
showcases the varied experiences available to those dynamic
individuals who embrace animal welfare as key to responsible
practice.
From working towards a world with more humane and
sustainable agriculture, to reducing the occurrence of the
unnecessary culling of dogs, to rescuing animals from
disasters, our vets have used their technical expertise to
reduce the suffering of millions animals and have found
a truly rewarding career.
Disclaimer: The views represented herein are those of the individuals and may
describe experiences prior to their employment at WSPA.