Opportunities for Learning about Animal Welfare from Online Courses to Graduate Degrees

Abstract

Knowledge of animal welfare has become essential for veterinarians. However, there is no clear consensus about how to provide veterinarians and students with this critical information. The challenges associated with finding qualified instructors and fitting additional courses into an already full curriculum mean that options for learning about animal welfare beyond the veterinary school classroom must be explored. Online courses can be excellent ways for veterinary students and graduate veterinarians to become familiar with current animal-welfare science, assessment schemes, and regulations while removing geographical barriers and scheduling difficulties. Faculty at Michigan State University have created an online animal-welfare course with lecture material from experts in welfare-related social and scientific fields that provides an overview of the underlying concepts as well as opportunities to practice assessing welfare. However, to develop expertise in animal welfare, veterinarians need more than a single course. Graduate degrees can be a way of obtaining additional knowledge and scientific expertise. Traditional thesis-based graduate programs in animal-welfare science are available in animal-science departments and veterinary colleges throughout North America and offer students in-depth research experience in specific areas or species of interest. Alternatively, the University of Guelph offers a year-long Master of Science degree in which students complete a series of courses with a specialization in animal behavior and welfare along with a focused research project and paper. In summary, a range of options exist that can be tailored to provide graduate veterinarians and veterinary students with credible education regarding animal welfare beyond the veterinary curriculum.

WSAVA Animal Welfare Guidelines

“…Veterinarians are considered by society to be experts in animal health and the treatment and prevention of animal disease and are similarly regarded in matters of animal welfare. As such, veterinarians are expected to make judgements regarding the welfare of animals both in their care and beyond (Siegford, Cottee and Widowski, 2010). The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recommends that veterinarians "should be the leading advocates for the welfare of all animals, recognizing the key contribution that animals make to human society through food production, companionship, biomedical research and education" (OIE, 2012).…”

“…The general public are increasingly concerned with how animals are treated in society and the promotion of good animal welfare (Siegford, Cottee and Widowski, 2010). But what does good animal welfare actually mean?…”

Understanding veterinarians as educators: an exploratory study

“…Veterinarians' perspectives on these practices related to animal welfare are central to the public policy decision-making process, informing how governments both create and reform animal welfare legislation at federal and state levels, and to consumers' consumption choices. As Siegford, Cottee, and Widowski (2010) observe:…”

“…Recently, changes in public attitudes and awareness of human-animal relationships and the concomitant rise in concern about issues of animal welfare have begun to increase veterinarians' visibility and reshape their professional role (Siegford, Cottee, and Widowski 2010). Dogs and cats have moved from the periphery to the center of human households and are now frequently considered members of the family, who sleep with humans in bed, have birthday parties, and receive holiday gifts.…”

“…In other countries, for example, the UK, animal welfare has been a concern of the veterinary profession for considerably longer, For example, the Animal Welfare Foundation, a charity led by veterinarians, was founded over 30 years ago, in 1983. 2 Thus, veterinarians are clearly more than simply technicians, they are increasingly primary educators about animal health, animal welfare, and the importance of the human-animal bond (Siegford, Cottee, and Widowski 2010).…”