World Veterinary Day has given us all the chance to celebrate the incredible contributions of vets to the health of animals and society.  Vets know that the health of the environment, people and animals are linked.   If there are negative changes to the environment, that affects us all.

On 25 April 2020, World Veterinary Day takes place.  It’s a chance to celebrate the work of vets to protect our environment. There are things you can do here, whether you're a veterinary professional or a pet owner. 

Thank you to everyone in the veterinary profession

A big thank you to everyone connected with veterinary practice, from the amazing veterinary nurses who are such a comfort to animals and their owners, to vets themselves who never know what their day will hold and what will come through the door on the end of a lead.  Thank you to all those who work on reception who have to deal with some very stressful situations and phone calls.  A huge thank you to all those involved in veterinary charities.

We have been well and truly blessed with the vets we have seen over the years, and we thank everyone who works to look after animals and their owners.

So on World Veterinary Day, here’s a chance to look at (veterinary) charities who work to improve animal welfare around the world:

Worldwide Veterinary Service
The Worldwide Veterinary Service is dedicated to animal welfare.  Whether sending vital aid parcels to organisations working in the poorest areas, delivering expert veterinary training to improve the standard of care worldwide or mobilising vets on the ground, the charity is committed to animal welfare. Take a look at some of the volunteer opportunities for vets and vet nurses!

Streetvet

Streetvet delivers free veterinary care to the homeless and their pets on the streets of a number of UK cities including London, Brighton, Southampton, Birmingham, Swansea, Lincoln, Peterborough, Reading, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cambridge, Plymouth, Glasgow, Gloucester, Swindon, Cornwall…. It’s expanding all the time!

Streetpaws

Street Paws provides veterinary care and outreach for animals owned by homeless people in the North East, North West, Wales, Northern Ireland and Yorkshire.  You can find where they are when on their website.

The PDSA

The Pet’s Dispensary for Sick Animals provides free veterinary care for those who qualify, and seeks to improve animal welfare by educating owners, preventing disease and carrying out life-saving operations.

Blue Cross

As well as rescuing pets, the Blue Cross offers free veterinary services to pets for owners who qualify.  They also run the Pet Bereavement Support Service for owners who are finding the loss of a pet difficult to cope with.

Pet Blood Bank

Pet Blood Bank UK is the only charity providing a canine blood bank service for all veterinary practitioners in the UK.  Could your dog be a donor?  Find out!

Snip International

UK registered charity SNIP International is dedicated to improving standards of animal welfare around the world. In particular SNIP International promotes neutering programmes aimed at stray and feral animals.

The Brooke

The Brooke help with veterinary treatment for working animals around the world; it educates owners and helps to improve veterinary care.  It employs over 150 vets, and over 6,000 vets, paravets and other healthcare professionals work with the Brook through its partners or in training.  Vet teams have a good understanding of how working animals and their owners work in the local areas they are in, and of the challenges they face.

Give the gift of 5 portable water troughs
and improve the welfare of animals with the Brooke
©The Brooke

SPANA

SPANA work in a number of countries around the world, providing free veterinary care, community and professional training in animal welfare, and teaching animal welfare education.  Like the Brooke, SPANA focusing its efforts on working animals.

Animal Health Trust

The AHW is a veterinary and scientific research charity dedicated to the health and welfare of your animal.  But the things they research and discover improve the lives of animals around the world.

SCAS

SCAS was established in 1979 to promote the study of human-companion animal interactions and raise awareness of the importance of pets in society. They have a lot of information on the animal-human bond, pets and housing, animal-assisted interventions and pets and mental health.  It’s a wonderful charity with a different angle to most.  Do take a look.

The RSPCA Cymru has called to keep sky lanterns on the ground as we all #clapforourcarers.

I think it’s wonderful that we are all applauding the NHS staff and I am sure many of us are including everybody else who is keeping us safe at that time and who is doing the essential work society needs doing.

But the RSPCA emailed today to say there are reports which suggests that companies selling sky lanterns have suggested releasing these devices as part of the #clapforourcarers proceedings.

RSPCA Cymru has urged us all to keep these sky lanterns on the ground.

Sky lanterns (also known as Chinese lanterns) pose significant risk to people and animals and the countryside.

Two very good reasons NOT to use sky lanterns

First, sky lanterns/Chinese lanterns can kill

Sky lanterns are lifted into the air through an open flame heat source.  These can be ingested by animals who may think they are food.  Sharp parts of the lantern can tear and puncture and animal’s throat or stomach and cause internal bleeding.

Wildlife, pets, horses and farm animals can all suffer terrible injury, stress and even death as a result.

Find out about the RSPCA's campaign to #EndSkyLitter
©RSPCA

Second, sky lanterns/Chinese can cause fire.

Fire destroys habitats.  Goodness knows we are short enough of these as more land is turned over to human use.  Fire can destroy wildlife habitats/homes.  It can set fire to animal housing, set food and bedding alight.

This can also cause death to animals; it can destroy essential supplies for animals at a time when a lot of us are finding life hard enough as it is financially.  It could even cause death to firefighters, who are under enough of a strain at the moment.

I don't know what it's like where you are, but here in Sussex we have had very little rain this month. . The ground is bone dry in a lot of places and with windy weather, the risk of a fire spreading fast increases.

This will destroy life, habitats, property and put a huge strain on emergency services.

Take a look at alternatives to sky lanterns and balloons
©RSPCA

Wales’ 22 local authoirites have banned the release of sky lanterns on land and they have done that for a very good reason.

The Marine Conservation Society has a campaign to ban sky lanterns and balloons  as well because of the same sort of damage they cause wildlife and marine life in the sea and on shore.

Find out about the Marine Conservation Society's Don't Let Go campaign and how you can help
©Marine Conservation Society

Dr Julia Wrathall, the RSPCA's chief scientific officer, said: "It is great that people are looking for ways to show their support for the NHS staff and other key workers at this challenging time - but it is so important people keep sky lanterns grounded.

"Lanterns may look pretty - but they're actually just pretty dangerous. They can be fatal to animals; destroying habitats, or posing a risk of ingestion, entanglement of entrapment as they return back to Earth.  

"Every single local authority in Wales has already banned sky lanterns from being released on their land - highlighting just how dangerous these devices are considered to be. 

A final thought...

If there’s one thing we must all do at the moment it’s to really think about our actions and consider their implications.  Staying at home reduces the risk to everybody, unless it is absolutely essential that we go out.  Reducing the possibility of more death and destruction at a time when people have enough to worry about is another.

Take a look at these resources

Alternatives to balloons and sky lanterns from the RSPCA

Get involved the RSPCA'scampaign to end sky litter #Endskylitter

Marine Conservation Society's Don't Let Go campaign

Please keep safe, everyone.   And let’s all #clapforthecarers and give them thanks.  They care for people because they want to preserve life and help others.  Setting off sky lanterns has the potentail to do completely the reverse.  

Here’s a way to help wild animals wherever you are in the world and it will only take a minute and it’s free to do it.

The IDA (that’s In Defense of Animals) emailed about action that's needed.

Bear bile and goat horn....

China’s National Health Commission recently released a list of recommended treatments for the coronavirus. 

Although they had (temporarily) banned the trade and consumption of wild animals on 24 February, on 4 March, the published list recommended – and I can’t believe this – well, maybe I can – an injection with bear bile and goat horn as a treatment for COVID-19.  IDA point out that there are many bear bile alternatives.   And the World Health Organisation asserts there is no known cure for COVID-19 at the moment.

Bear bile is cruelly extracted from bears held captive on bear bile farms in China and South East Asia.  Often their cages are so small that they cannot move.  They have no space, no freedom to roam and they are denied everything they need to thrive.  A syringe, a catheter or pipe are inserted into an animal’s gallbladder to extract the bile.  And bears have to undergo this time and time again.

Bears like this one need all of us to ACT NOW

Put pressure on China

IDA are asking that we all join them in contacting China’s public health authorities and decision makers to ask for a PERMANENT ban on all exploitation of wild animals.  This will help prevent future pandemics.  As they say….

“Why would the Chinese government choose to temporarily ban the trade and consumption of wild animals to prevent the spread of disease, while promoting the exploitation of wild animals as an unsubstantiated treatment for COVID-19?”

So here’s what you can do to help stop this happening:

Join IDA in urging the Chinese Ambassador to the US and the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China to withdraw their recommendation of wild-animal derived coronavirus treatments.

• Sign their pledge to protect all animals, humans and non-humans, and our collective future on earth
• Send the letter to the Chinese Ambassador to the US and China’s National Health Commission which IDA have here – it’s easy to do.

PLEASE SIGN HERE

And then spread the word.

While you’re doing that, you might also like to spread the word about the work Education for Nature – Vietnam – is doing to stop bear bile farming.   Visit their website here