22 April 2013
Dear WSAVA Member,
The WSAVA Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee (AWWC) is very interested in gaining insight on
the state of small companion animal welfare as viewed by veterinarians in your country.
Your input will help us better understand the global landscape of regional welfare issues so that we can
formulate potential educational opportunities, lectures of interest as well as allowing us to prioritize
and plan activities and topics for future communication.
We would greatly appreciate a response to this survey before 31 July 2013 from the appropriate persons
within your national association / organization.
If you have any questions regarding this survey please contact:
Dr. Rod Jouppi
WSAVA Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee
wsava.awwc@gmail.com
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Organization name:
Contact name:
Email:
Phone:
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1. What are the local welfare issues of greatest concern to small companion animal veterinarians in
your country/region?
Please indicate which issues are the most important by ranking where:
1= little importance and 5 = very important.
PLEASE provide comments regarding estimated frequency and your experience &/or details of the
issue in your region.
Welfare Issues
Zoonoses (Animals inhumanely treated
because of possible health related issues on
people e.g. Rabies)
Free-living companion animals
e.g. Stray or Feral
Intentional cruelty/neglect
Irresponsible pet ownership
e.g. parasites, grooming, nutrition
Hoarding
Selective breeding of purebred pets
e.g. brachycephalic airway syndrome,
required caesarean sections
Shelters and re-homing centres;
welfare and euthanasia policies
Animal behaviour
e.g. aggression, dangerous dogs
Over-population
Spay/Castration issues;
e.g. complications, cost, non-surgical
alternatives
Surgical manipulation of companion
animals; e.g. declaw, de-bark, ear cropping,
tail docking
Other please specify….
Rank
(1-5)
Comments
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2. Euthanasia and euthanasia methods are subject to intense debate. What is the predominant
method used for dog and cat euthanasia in veterinary practice in your country?
Euthanasia Method in Vet Clinics
Rank
(1-5)
Comments
Intravenous Injection
Cardiac Injection
Physical Methods;
e.g. gunshot, cervical dislocation
Poisoning; e.g. carbon monoxide
Others – please provide
3. Can you provide for us the predominant method for dog and cat euthanasia in animal rehoming/shelter facilities in your country?
Euthanasia Method in Shelters
Rank
(1-5)
Comments
Intravenous Injection
Cardiac Injection
Physical Methods;
e.g. gunshot, cervical dislocation
Poisoning; e.g. carbon monoxide
Others – please provide
4. Please elaborate on any controversies/issues pertaining to humane euthanasia of companion
pets in your country.
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5. Would veterinarians in your country like education on the topic of companion animal welfare?
YES
NO
If yes, on which topics?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
If yes please indicate how this education might be best provided:
a. WSAVA Congress lecture streams
b. Continuing education conferences
c. Certification workshops
d. Newsletters
e. Webinars
f.
Access to a central resource for educational materials. e.g. www.WSAVA.org/animalwelfare
g. Other, please specify
6. Would you like the WSAVA to organize visits to sites of interest, connected with companion animal
welfare in association with WSAVA Congresses?
YES
NO
If yes, what would be of most interest?
a.
Active participation in volunteer rabies clinics, community or shelter programs?
b.
Passive visitations to animal facilities?
7. If WSAVA were to offer a competitive educational grant for student internships in animal welfare,
would you be interested in providing opportunities such as: spay/neuter/vaccination clinics, rescue
experience, shelter work?
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8.
Any additional remarks about companion animal welfare issues in your country/region?
9.
If we want more information on certain topics concerning companion animal welfare can we
contact you or another member of your organization?
YES
NO
If so please provide contact details (name, email address):
10. Does your organization have any documents or position papers (in English) on companion animal
welfare that you could share with WSAVA?
YES
NO
11. Does your country have the equivalent of a “Veterinarians’ Oath” (in English or your native
language) that could be shared with the WSAVA AWWC? (See the AVMA for an example
www.avma.org/about_avma/whoweare/oath.asp)
YES
NO
If yes, please forward a copy of the veterinary oath to wsava.awwc@gmail.com
12. Are there organizations/programs in place that might serve as models for intervention in particular
areas of animal welfare need?
If so please provide details:
or forward documents to wsava.awwc@gmail.com
YES
NO
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We would like to place all received collated input on www.wsava.org to share and to raise awareness of
global animal welfare & wellness issues.
With Gratitude,
WSAVA Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee
wsava.awwc@gmail.com