De Boo J and Knight A. ‘Concepts in Animal Welfare’: a syllabus in animal welfare science and ethics for veterinary schools. J Vet Medical Educ 2006;32(4):451-453.  Download (58 kb).
 

De Boo J, Knight A. Educating the veterinary professional about animal welfare. ALTEX: Alternatives to Animal Experimentation 2006;23(special issue: Proceedings: 5th World Congress 2005):71-4. www.altex.ch. Download (174 kb).

De Boo J, Knight A. Poor animal welfare positions illustrate the need for improved education of veterinarians. Scientific poster. Download (6.99 Mb).
 

 

ABSTRACT JVME
Public attitudes toward animal welfare have improved with growing social affluence, and veterinarians are increasingly expected to be informed about animal welfare in a broader sense than health alone. However, animal welfare has not been a traditional component of the veterinary curriculum. To help address this lack, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the University of Bristol School of Veterinary Science launched the ‘‘Concepts in Animal Welfare’’ syllabus in 2003. This comprehensive syllabus comprises seven core and 23 elective modules and covers a range of animal welfare issues, including farm and companion animal welfare, wildlife, and the use of animals in experiments. There are also modules on ethics and animal legislation. The syllabus is interactive, promotes critical analysis of issues from different angles, and may be adapted for use in any veterinary curriculum. WSPA provides training and workshops in developing countries and assists with the implementation of the syllabus.  

 

ABSTRACT ALTEX
For many years, animal welfare organisations have taken the lead in bringing about improvements in animal welfare, as well as helping to change attitudes towards animals. Unfortunately, the veterinary profession has often lagged behind in its support for reform. It is vital therefore that veterinary training includes a good grounding in animal welfare education. In 2003, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the University of Bristol launched the ‘Concepts in Animal Welfare Syllabus’ to assist with the teaching of animal welfare in veterinary faculties. The syllabus stimulates focused critical thinking on animal welfare issues.

ABSTRACT Scientific poster
Veterinarians are widely considered to be informed, rational authorities who possess expertise on virtually any topic relating to animals, including animal welfare. However, our survey of the positions of four of the world's leading veterinary associations on five important issues, namely: the close confinement of laying hens in 'battery cages,' of pregnant sows in gestation crates, of veal calves in crates, the cosmetic tail-docking of dogs, and the use of animals in scientific research and education, revealed that the positions of veterinary associations on animal welfare issues appear to lag behind those of the general public. Likely causes include deficiencies in formal veterinary education. Although humane teaching methods are being introduced, harmful animal use in surgical and preclinical training remains commonplace in veterinary courses worldwide, and animal welfare and bioethics education remains minimal in most veterinary curricula. However, several initiatives, including formal, distance and online courses in animal welfare have been developed over the past decade, including the ‘Concepts in animal welfare syllabus,’ developed by Bristol University and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), which aims to assist with the teaching of animal welfare in veterinary faculties worldwide.

 

Animal welfare scientist and qualified teacher Jasmijn de Boo MSc., BSc. (Hons.), Dip. Ed., is the Education and Training Coordinator for the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), and also tutors animal welfare online. She has actively promoted alternatives to animal use in education and research since 2001, and has been actively involved in the Dutch political Party for the Animals since 2003.

 

Veterinarian Andrew Knight BSc., BVMS, CertAW, MRCVS, is the Founder, Director and web designer of Animal Consultants International. He is an expert on humane alternatives to harmful animal use in education, animal experimentation, and vegetarian companion animal diets. An active animal advocate since 1995, he has extensive public speaking, media, research and writing experience.