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The principle role of the Animal Welfare Committee is to provide awareness and foster collaborative solutions to companion animal welfare issues with global relevance. The result of these endeavours are various positions statements and conventions (see links below) as well as organzing the Animal Welfare Forum, which is an integral component of the annual WSAVA World Congress.

Past Animal Welfare Forum proceedings are available online and can be accessed via the following links:

2001- Vancouver, Canada

2002 - Granada, Spain

2003 - Bangkok, Thailand

2004 - Rhodes, Greece

2005 - Mexico City, Mexico

2006 - Prague, Czech Republic

2007 - Sydney, Australia

2008 - Dublin, Ireland

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WSAVA supports World Rabies Day

Read more....

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WSAVA adopts policy on Dangerous Dogs

1. The WSAVA supports the development of dangerous dog legislation, provided it refers to an individual dog�s measurable actions.
2. The WSAVA does not support the targeting of specific breeds under dangerous dog legislation.

Background: There are community concerns about the keeping of certain breeds of dog. People keep dogs for many reasons including guarding of property or persons, and historically fighting. Canine behaviour may be influenced by several factors including genetic predisposition, early socialization and learning, current environment, as well as owner attitudes and training. Certain breeds or lines within breeds have been bred for particular behavioural characteristics; some of these include aggressive behaviour. However, all behaviours are not necessarily uniform within breeds and may or may not be present within individuals. De-sexing, obedience training and/or behaviour modification including psychopharmacotherapy may assist in modifying aggressive behaviour. Veterinarians, breed societies, breeders, welfare agencies, pet shops and owners, should accept their responsibilities in educating the public to enable them to select a suitable dog, provide it with the appropriate environment, and not to breed from or distribute animals with undesirable behaviour traits.
Legislative recommendations: Effective legislation is required to address the problems posed by individual dangerous dogs. Special regulations regarding the registration/identification of the offending animal with local authorities is needed.

Regulations may include the following:
1. Whilst at home, the dog should be kept indoors or in a secure dog-proof enclosure.
2. The owner should be required to display warning signs at the premises, including a sign that children can understand.
3. When the dog is taken off the owner�s premises, it must be muzzled, leashed, and under the effective control of the owner at all times.
4. If a declared dangerous dog becomes a stray, it must be humanely destroyed.
5. If a dog is transported, then it should be within a child-proof enclosure.
6. A declared dangerous dog must have permanent (microchip) identification and wear a collar that is easily recognizable and which identifies the dog as dangerous.
7. Resale of dangerous dogs should be regulated, policed, and permits issued.

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International Companion Animal Management (ICAM) Coalition

Much has happened since 1990, and recently the ICAM Coalition was formed to share information and ideas on companion animal population dynamics. Currently, ICAM is made up of representatives from the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), the Humane Society International (HSI), the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), RSPCA International (the international arm of the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals, the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW), the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and the Alliance for Rabies Control (ARC).

In January 2008, ICAM published a document titled �Humane Dog Population Management Guidance�. This essentially builds on and replaces the original WHO/WSPA framework, and is illustrated by a number of real life case studies.

Animal Welfare Committee - ICAM Coalition

The WSAVA Welfare committee strongly recommends this to WSAVA members.
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WSAVA Animal Welfare Links:

• Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs
• Convention Signatories
• Protection of Companion Animals
• Protection of Companion Animals - Spanish
• Ratification of the WSAVA Convention
• Tail Docking
• Tail Docking - Spanish
• Welfare Committee

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Animal Welfare Position Statements from WSAVA Member Associations

USA-AAHA

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Animal Welfare in the News

RSPCA - Australia

RCVS - UK: tail docking legislative initiatives

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