WSAVA, World Animal Protection partner to promote global canine welfare

Shane Ryan, DVM, BVSc (Hons), MVS, CVA, GradDipAnimChiro, MChiroSc, MRCVS, and Katherine Blaszak sign the Memorandum of Understanding to improve the welfare of dogs globally.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and World Animal Protection (formerly World Society for the Protection of Animals) have announced their engagement in a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve the welfare of dogs globally. The MoU will allow them to work collaboratively to raise awareness of animal welfare issues and promote animal welfare education.

This is the second MoU the two organizations have entered into—the first was signed in 2014 following World Animal Protection’s campaign to create better lives for dogs globally.

“This second MoU is an extension of our important collaboration with World Animal Protection,” WSAVA President Shane Ryan, DVM, BVSc (Hons), MVS, CVA, GradDipAnimChiro, MChiroSc, MRCVS, said in a release of the announcement. “We look forward to this renewal of our relationship and to working with the World Animal Protection team and utilizing the excellent educational resources it produces.”

The agreement will prioritize the importance of the veterinary role in humane dog population management and in the control and eradication of rabies. Both organizations intend to mobilize veterinary professionals to enhance harmonious co-existence of dogs and humans.

“[The MoU] puts more focus on the role of the veterinarian in humane dog population management and rabies control,” Dr. Ryan said, “issues in which our Animal Wellness and Welfare and One Health Committees take a strong interest.”

According to the agreement, WSAVA members will be given access to several of World Animal Protection’s resources, including:

• Resources from “Life’s Better with Dogs,” a campaign that focuses on ending the unnecessary culling of stray dogs in an attempt to stop the spread of rabies
• “Animals in Disasters” PrepVet veterinary training course, which teaches veterinary responders how to protect animals affected by earthquakes, floods, typhoons and other disasters

The MoU also states that World Animal Protection will promote WSAVA’s Animal Welfare Guidelines and actively participate in WSAVA events, including the WSAVA World Congress.

World Animal Protection Program Director for Animals in Communities Pankaj KC said: “Our continued collaboration with WSAVA means that we can together continue to safeguard the lives of dogs and people in these communities and help humans and dogs live together in harmony.”