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CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS |
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| MONDAY - MAY 11, 2009 | |
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It's Our Responsibility: Improving Animal Welfare During Transport |
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Dr.
Mark LAWRIE,
BVSc., MACVSc. (Animal Welfare),
Tel: +61 2 94315002
Dr Mark Lawrie was Chief Veterinarian with Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in New South Wales (NSW) from July, 1993 to May, 2008, responsible for 4 veterinary hospitals with up to 90 veterinary and support staff. He was involved in numerous prosecutions under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1979) as an expert veterinary witness. He originally worked in Food Animal Practice for 5 years (the first 3 in regulatory work) before working predominantly in small animal practice with RSPCA. He did 2 years in mixed practice in the UK and 7 months missionary work in India and Nepal in the early 90s. From Sept 2003 to Feb 2004 he worked as a veterinary consultant with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in Australia, South Korea and the South Pacific. He was the secretary of the Animal Management in Remote and Rural Indigenous Communities (AMRRIC) group in Australia (2003-2007). A welfare member of the Animal Research Review Panel (ARRP) for over a decade he has extensive experience in the ethical regulation of animals in research. He was awarded a Membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Animal Welfare in 2004. He was elected to the National AVA Board as a director in May 2006 and became President in 2008. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is married and lives in Sydney with his 6 children, 2 of whom are dogs. [ Back to Top ] |
“A Look at Animal
Welfare
Dr. Mark LAWRIE, BVSc., MACVSc. (Animal Welfare), GAICD, CMAVA President Australian Veterinary Association A scan of animal welfare issues in contemporary Australia is considered in this paper by a veterinarian who until recently worked for 15 years in a senior management role with Australia’s largest animal welfare organization. Historically, and even in recent times, there have been many practices in animal management and welfare for which Australia has been internationally criticized. These are considered and benchmarked where applicable to other countries acknowledging that deficits can be found in animal welfare practice in all countries. Often issues are raised on the international stage by animal rights or welfare groups for a number of reasons and these will be considered. The concept of issues management will be considered from both poles of debate as is the role of veterinarians and particularly veterinary associations in informing stakeholders and the public with balanced and independent information. Some of the animal welfare initiatives that Australia has been involved with are discussed. These include the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy and the development of standards and guidelines for animal welfare. Consideration is given to the significant input to animal welfare research that has occurred in Australia and the role that the Live Export Industry has played in this. The advantages Australia enjoys in having more pasture and outdoor based animal production systems and the disadvantages of vast distances over which animals need to be transported are discussed. The significant role of New Zealand and the advantages in collaboration with our close neighbor are acknowledged. Areas where Australia has shown leadership in animal welfare are highlighted, along with the role that Australians have played in promoting animal welfare projects in developing and other countries. The important role of both the Australian Veterinary Association Special Interest Group in Animal Welfare and Ethics and the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists-Animal Welfare Chapter is examined. The issue of science based, continuous improvements in animal welfare is discussed as a key foundation of forward progress. The concept of how such a foundation can be a short term disadvantage in dealing with the media and a long term benefit after sensation has subsided in influencing political and public opinion are reviewed. PowerPoint Presentation |
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Yvette FARRELL Communication Manager MLA/LiveCorp Level 1, 165 Walker St. Sydney 2060 Australia
Tel: +61 2 9463 9388 Fax: +61 2 9463 9206
Yvette Farrell has over 15 years experience in communication and public relations in the media, banking and transport sectors with a strong focus on issues and media management. In 2007 Yvette joined the Meat & Livestock Australia and LiveCorp joint Livestock Export Program as communication manager, responsible for growing awareness, improving perceptions and building understanding of the livestock export industry within Australia. Yvette drives the industry’s proactive communication program, responsive media and community communication and issues management strategy. Over the past two years community support for the livestock export industry has increased whilst against a background of strong opposition from animal rights organisations who seek to end the trade. The Livestock Export Program communication strategy has focused on education as key to delivering awareness and changes in perception. Providing honest, sincere and credible information, and being transparent and responsive was critical to building relationships and a platform for industry information. Educating media, communities and key stakeholders and using spokespeople from within industry to share facts and anecdotes about the industry contributed to an increase in understanding and support. The program has built websites, delivered print media advertising, accessed local communities at Royal Agricultural Shows, delivered information kits and stickers, postcards and facts sheets to key audiences across Australia. The landscape is changing, and reaching the public means using diverse and complementary channels. Yvette is now delivering a social media program for Meat & Livestock Australia and the livestock export industry to ensure leadership, responsiveness and honesty in all online and networking communication.
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“Building Positive Community Perceptions: Informing and Educating a Key Stakeholder” Yvette FARRELL Communications Manager MLA/LiveCorp
Presentation made by Cameron Morse who substituted for Yvette at the last minute.
Australia’s livestock export industry is faced with the ongoing challenge of building and maintaining community support whilst numerous vocal, passionate and well funded groups seek to influence public opinion against the trade. A two year program to educate and inform attitudes and perceptions about the livestock export industry has been critical to building understanding across a number of key stakeholder groups including media and metropolitan communities. Traditional media has been one critical component in informing public perception, however the need to integrate social media activities to reach our audiences and share information on new platforms is opening up many opportunities. Livestock and animal industries around the world can now work together to share achievements, best practice and material to convey the globally consistent message that we are committed to animal welfare.
There are three key areas this presentation will raise:
Perceptions are influenced by factors including negative or positive media coverage, corporate reputation, word-of-mouth, event recall and organised action from, for example, activist groups. Tracking and monitoring community perceptions via quantitative or qualitative measures ensures the organisation is aware of how their company is perceived, what messaging works well and what misinformation they need to correct.
Responses should be timely, information factual and referenced and delivered by credible messengers - from day-to–day operational representatives to corporate spokespeople. Organisations should be accessible, transparent and responsive to media, the public, government and key stakeholders. The value of talking one-on-one to constituents and sharing information at community events is often immeasurable in addressing concerns and improving perceptions.
The emergence of social media has raised new challenges and opportunities for companies seeking to monitor and influence public opinion. There is great value in using both traditional media and social media to share information, ensure balanced and informed debate and educate communities. Whilst there are challenges, use of these tools enables companies to access social networks, respond to claims and requests for information quickly, share information such as videos on youtube, presentations on flickr, or create social networks on myspace and facebook. Organisations and industries can ensure information is more accessible than it has ever been, and share, learn and communicate key messages across countries and continents. PowerPoint Presentation |
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Dr. John EDWARDS Dean School of Biomedical Sciences, Veterinary Clinical Sciences Room 2.023 Murdoch University, Western Australia
Tel: +61 893602636
Fax: +61 893107390
Dr. Teresa COLLINS - Co-Author School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University
Professor John Edwards is the Dean of the School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at Murdoch University in Perth. Following a period as a veterinary epidemiologist with the Western Australian Department of Agriculture and two years as Lecturer in Veterinary Epidemiology at Murdoch University he was appointed Chief Veterinary Officer for Western Australia from 1993-2001. He was also Chief Quarantine Officer (Animals) during this period and in this role was involved in policy and operations in relation to animal transport. This was followed by three years as Regional Coordinator for the OIE Southeast Asia Foot and Mouth Disease Campaign. Professor Edwards is well known in national and international circles and has relevant policy and management experience in the fields of animal health, public health, biosecurity and animal welfare. Areas of particular expertise include risk analysis, risk communication, border security, surveillance and emergency response. He is also actively involved in research on trans-boundary animal diseases in Australia and Southeast Asia.
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“More Science - Less Emotion”
Dr. John EDWARDS Dean - School of Biomedical Sciences Veterinary Clinical Sciences Murdoch University
The last two decades have witnessed rising levels of community concern about the care and management of livestock and a new understanding of animal welfare science. There is a great diversity of views in the community on the transport of animals. These views are influenced by culture, socio-economic values and ethical attitudes to animals, and are changing due to increased appreciation of the human-animal relationship and the wider recognition of sentience in animals. Thus, social and scientific research is needed to advance the public debate, better understand the challenges faced by animals and to improve the assessment and control of animal welfare during transport.
Animal welfare scientists using a multidisciplinary approach, seek to know what matters to the animal and to develop ways that their needs can be met in real life circumstances (e.g. during transport). Previously, there was a greater emphasis on the provision of inputs (e.g. stocking density) and now there is a growing emphasis on animal based outputs (e.g. behaviour and physiology). Many aspects of animal welfare are complex and counter intuitive and therefore there is a need for objective, integrated scientific approaches. To provide the community with assurance that animal welfare in the livestock transport industries is being protected and improved, it is necessary to implement an integrated package of approaches and these include:
Education, training and communication are of critical importance to ensure the successful translation of research outputs into good industry practice and to inform the wider community. Proactive approaches carefully designed and targeted to audiences and strategic industry alliances are needed. Education in animal welfare science and animal ethics needs to be strengthened in disciplines such as veterinary science, animal science, and agriculture. Similar training, such as low stress handling, is also needed for persons handling and transporting animals.
Further research which is objective, independent and credible is needed to:
PowerPoint Presentation
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Last Updated: 01-Aug-2009 |
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