scholarly journals Recalibrating Veterinary Medicine through Animal Welfare Science and Ethics for the 2020s

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 654
Author(s):  
Andreia De Paula Vieira ◽  
Raymond Anthony
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
Traditional Role ◽  
Veterinary Students ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Veterinary Ethics ◽  
Veterinary Profession ◽  
Animal Welfare Science ◽  
Monitoring Technologies

What should leading discourses and innovation regarding animal welfare look like for the veterinary profession in the 2020s? This essay considers four main challenges into which veterinarians are increasingly being drawn, as they respond to increasing public expectation for them to be scientific and moral authorities in animal welfare in addition to their traditional role as trusted health experts. They include: (1) to go beyond traditional conceptions of health by adopting a holistic view that also considers animal welfare, not only disease treatment; (2) to reimagine their professional duties when it comes to disease prevention at the intersection of animal-human-ecosystem health; (3) to develop core competencies/proficiency in animal welfare science and ethics in order to navigate discourses concerning competing priorities and socio-political ideologies and to provide professional leadership in animal welfare; (4) to provide feedback on novel networked devices, monitoring technologies and automated animal welfare solutions and their impact on animals’ welfare. To competently navigate the intricacies of the socio-political and connected world as trusted authorities and conduits for innovation in and through animal welfare, veterinarians and veterinary students are encouraged to: (a) develop core competencies in veterinary ethics, animal welfare science and deliberative capacities that are well-informed by current multidisciplinary frameworks, such as One Health; (b) engage interested parties in more effective collaboration and ethical decision-making in order to address animal welfare related concerns within their immediate sphere of influence (e.g., in a given community); and (c) participate in the process of engineering and technological design that incorporates animals’ welfare data (such as their preferences) for real-time animal monitoring through adding animal scientific and values-aware evidence in information technology systems. In order to tackle these challenges, four pillars are suggested to help guide veterinarians and the veterinary profession. They are: Collaboration, Critical Engagement, Centeredness on Research, and Continuous Self-Critique.

Knowledge and opinions of veterinary students in Italy toward animal welfare science and law

2017 ◽  
Vol 180 (9) ◽  
pp. 225-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Magnani ◽  
N. Ferri ◽  
A. Dalmau ◽  
S. Messori
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Educational Strategies ◽  
Veterinary Students ◽  
Professional Interest ◽  
Animal Welfare Science ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
University Training ◽  
High Degree

Animal welfare (AW) is a growing concern worldwide and veterinary students are expected to demonstrate a high degree of professional interest in the welfare of animals. However, previous studies have highlighted gaps in the teaching of AW teaching in different countries, possibly impairing veterinary competency in the area. This survey aimed to assess the opinions of Italian veterinary students towards AW, as well as their knowledge on the issue. Questions were divided into different sections, investigating the definition of, and information on, AW, knowledge about AW legislation, and the level of tolerance towards AW in regard to the use of animals for different purposes. Results showed that behaviour was the most frequently used word to define AW. Italian students considered their own level of knowledge on AW as good, relying on their university training, websites and television. They requested more AW legislation, but when questioned on specifics of the current legislation, there was a general lack of knowledge. Although poultry, pigs and rabbits were considered the species experiencing the worst management conditions, the species that raised the most AW concerns were companion animals and cattle. Results from this investigation may allow the development of tailored actions aimed at appropriately implementing educational strategies, at national and international levels, to improve the role of future veterinarians as leaders in AW.

scholarly journals Two Domains to Five: Advancing Veterinary Duty of Care to Fulfil Public Expectations of Animal Welfare Expertise

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3504
Author(s):  
Katherine E. Littlewood ◽  
Ngaio J. Beausoleil
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Internal State ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Veterinary Profession ◽  
Public Expectations ◽  
Animal Welfare Science ◽  
Health Experts

Veterinarians are animal health experts. More recently, they have been conferred a leading role as experts in animal welfare. This expectation of veterinarians as welfare experts appears to stem from their training in veterinary medicine as well as professional contributions to welfare-relevant policy and law. Veterinarians are ideally situated to act as animal welfare experts by virtue of their core work with animals and potential influence over owners, their roles in policy development, compliance, and monitoring, and as educators of future veterinarians. However, since its inception as a discipline over 70 years ago, animal welfare science has moved beyond a two-dimensional focus on nutrition and health (biological functioning) towards an understanding that the mental experiences of animals are the focus of welfare consideration. The Five Domains Model is a structured and systematic framework for more holistically considering conditions that contribute to the animal’s internal state and its perception of its external situation, and the resultant mental experiences. The Model can be used to better align veterinary animal welfare expertise with contemporary understanding of animal welfare science and improve welfare literacy within the veterinary profession. Improved understanding of animal welfare science is likely to lead to increased confidence, competence, and empowerment to act as experts in their daily lives.

scholarly journals Importance of Welfare and Ethics Competence Regarding Animals Kept for Scientific Purposes to Veterinary Students in Australia and New Zealand

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Collins ◽  
Amelia Cornish ◽  
Jennifer Hood ◽  
Chris Degeling ◽  
Andrew Fisher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Ethical Decision Making ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Veterinary Students ◽  
Strong Position ◽  
Three Stages ◽  
Research Animal

Veterinarians are in a strong position of social influence on animal-related issues. Hence, veterinary schools have an opportunity to raise animal health and welfare standards by improving veterinary students’ animal welfare and ethics (AWE) education, including that related to animals used for scientific purposes. A survey of 818 students in the early, mid, and senior stages of their courses at all eight veterinary schools across Australia and New Zealand was undertaken on their first day of practice (or Day One Competences) to explore how veterinary students viewed the importance of their competence in the management of welfare and ethical decision-making relating to animals kept for scientific purposes. From highest to lowest, the rankings they assigned were: Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) Procedures or Requirements; 3Rs (Replacement, Refinement and Reduction); Humane Endpoints; Euthanasia; “What Is a Research Animal?”; and Conscientious Objections. Female students rated Conscientious Objections, Humane Endpoints, and Euthanasia significantly higher than male students did across the three stages of study. The score patterns for these three variates showed a trend for the male students to be more likely to score these topics as extremely important as they advanced through the course, but female students’ scores tended to decline slightly or stay relatively stable. No gender differences emerged for the three variates: 3Rs (Replacement, Refinement and Reduction); AEC Procedures or Requirements; and “What Is a Research Animal?”. This study demonstrates that understandings of the regulatory and normative frameworks are considered most important in animal welfare and ethics competence in veterinary students. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate what importance veterinary students place on their competence regarding animals kept for scientific purposes.

Veterinary Ethics: Navigating Tough Cases

2018 ◽  
Vol 183 (8) ◽  
pp. 271-271
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Veterinary Ethics ◽  
Animal Welfare Science

Reviewed by David Mills of the Royal Veterinary College’s animal welfare science and ethics group.

scholarly journals Attitudes toward Animals and Their Welfare among Italian Veterinary Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Pirrone ◽  
Chiara Mariti ◽  
Angelo Gazzano ◽  
Mariangela Albertini ◽  
Claudio Sighieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Nonparametric Tests ◽  
Veterinary Students ◽  
The Public ◽  
Veterinary Profession ◽  
A Value ◽  
Welfare Attitudes

As members of the public and the veterinary profession are increasingly concerned about animal welfare, there has been an increased scholarly interest in the attitudes of veterinarians and students toward animals, as these may impact human behavior, which ultimately impacts animal welfare. Here we investigated Italian veterinary students’ demographic data and perceptions about nonhuman animal welfare issues that might be predictive of their attitudes. A survey eliciting information about demographics, knowledge, experience, and perceptions regarding different categories of animals, and including the Animal Attitude Scale (AAS), was administered to undergraduate veterinary medicine students in three Italian universities. Data were analyzed using nonparametric tests, and a value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In total, 876 students completed the questionnaire, with females (75.1%) making up a majority of students in all years of the course. Although veterinary students showed pro-animal welfare attitudes (mean score = 64.20 ± 0.24 out of 100), the findings suggested that year of study, gender, and geographical location had a significant impact (p < 0.05). In this study, we found a set of factors that, either individually or combined, help predict a student’s attitude toward animal welfare issues, which will be useful in improving the curriculum strategy in veterinary education in Italy.

scholarly journals The Importance of Animal Welfare Science and Ethics to Veterinary Students in Australia and New Zealand

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Freire ◽  
Clive J. C. Phillips ◽  
Joy M. Verrinder ◽  
Teresa Collins ◽  
Chris Degeling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Veterinary Students ◽  
Animal Welfare Science

scholarly journals PSIV-33 The Animal Welfare Assessment Contest® as a Tool to Promote Animal Welfare Education

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 468-468
Author(s):  
Sharon Kuca ◽  
Lindsey McKinney ◽  
Cia Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Educational Tool ◽  
Welfare Assessment ◽  
Behavioral Indicators ◽  
Animal Welfare Science ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Animal Welfare Assessment ◽  
Strongly Agree

Abstract Established in 2001, the Animal Welfare Assessment Contest® (AWJAC®) aims to be an innovative educational tool for enhancing understanding and awareness of welfare issues affecting animals used for human purposes (e.g., research, agriculture, entertainment, companionship). The contest is open to participation by veterinary, undergraduate, and graduate students who may participate as individuals or as part of a team. A limited number of veterinarians are also eligible to compete as non-placing participants. Participation in the contest entails assessment of live and computer-based scenarios encompassing data, photographs, and videos of animals in comparable situations. Students then use the information obtained to rank the welfare of the animals in those situations on the basis of physiologic and behavioral indicators, with attention to facilities and management, and present their analyses orally to expert judges. The species featured change each year of the contest. At the completion of each contest, participants and coaches are asked to anonymously complete a written survey. The quantitative and qualitative results of this survey are used to determine if the contest has achieved its aims and incorporate suggestions for improvement of future contests. The majority of survey respondents from the five contests held between 2014–2018 report they either strongly agree or agree that the AWJAC increased their knowledge of animal welfare science (98%, n = 549) and was an overall valuable experience (99%, n = 547) that they would recommend to their peers (98%, n = 550). Respondents cited networking opportunities and diversity of species featured in the contest as key reasons the contest is valuable. Given these results, the AWJAC is successfully achieving its aims to increase animal welfare knowledge in an innovative way.

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