Over the last few months I have attended national veterinary conferences throughout New Zealand, Canada and the USA. During this time I was also present at Association meetings that serve a similar purpose to our Policy Council and Division/SIG President meetings held at the AVA National Conference. Not surprisingly the veterinary associations in those countries are facing similar challenges to our AVA. Some of the key points that emerged at those meetings were: Basing Animal Welfare Policies on Sound Science: The veterinary profession has a major role in ensuring that national animal welfare policies are based on sound science irrespective of whether those policies relate to companion animals, production animals, performance animals, zoo animals orwildlife. Importantly we are all striving to keep animal welfare policies in line with community expectations and in doing so we recognise that considerable further research is required. In the USA, some animal rights groups have subjected the AmericanVeterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to an extensive media campaign in an attempt to denigrate the AVMA animal welfare policies.
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