The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and World Animal Protection have engaged in a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will see them working together to raise awareness of animal welfare issues and promote animal welfare education globally. The agreement will prioritize the importance of the veterinary role in humane dog population management and in the control and eradication of rabies. The two organizations hope that their collaboration will help to engage and mobilize veterinary professionals across the world to enhance harmonious co-existence between dogs and people and to ensure that all dogs are treated more humanely.
Under the terms of the MoU, WSAVA members will have access to World Animal Protection’s ‘Life’s Better with Dogs’ campaign resources and ‘Animals in Disasters’ Prepvet veterinary training course for their animal welfare and outreach work, helping to ensure dog populations and animals in disasters have the best possible treatment and care. World Animal Protection will promote the WSAVA’s Global Guidelines for Companion Animal Welfare, as well as actively participating in events, including WSAVA World Congress, to help raise the profile of the crucial role that veterinarians play in the lives of dogs and other animals.
World Animal Protection has a long-standing relationship with WSAVA and first signed an MoU in 2014 following the charity’s campaign to create better lives for dogs globally¹.
WSAVA President Dr Shane Ryan said: "This second MoU is an extension of our important collaboration with World Animal Protection. It puts more focus on the role of the veterinarian in humane dog population management and rabies control, issues in which our Animal Wellness and Welfare and One Health Committees take a strong interest. We look forward to this renewal of our relationship and to working with the World Animal Protection team and utilizing the excellent educational resources it produces.”
Programme Director for Animals in Communities at World Animal Protection, Pankaj KC, added: "Dogs have long been viewed as man’s best friend, but sadly, the majority of the free roaming global dog population lives under the constant threat of persecution and violent culling.
“Our continued collaboration with WSAVA means that we can together continue to safeguard the lives of dogs and people in these communities and help humans and dogs live together in harmony.”

¹ World Animal Protection’s campaign was called the ‘Red Collar campaign’. It focused on areas including: promoting animal welfare education globally, working towards humane and sustainable companion animal populations and rabies control, promoting a global veterinary engagement strategy and raising awareness globally for animal welfare issues.