March 21, 2017

World Veterinary Association, Ceva create Global Animal Welfare Awards 2017

As global understanding and concern for animal welfare continues to change, so must the veterinary community evolve to embrace these changes and reflect societal expectations, Ceva Santé Animale states in a press release.

Animal welfare is a core mandate of the veterinary community generally and of veterinarians individually. Veterinarians must be engaged, knowledgeable, and prepared to use their skills and expertise in this field to assist and support animal caregivers, industry, policy makers and the public to ensure best practices are in place that promote good animal welfare, Ceva adds.

Hence, the World Veterinary Association (WVA) announces the creation of the Global Animal Welfare Awards 2017 which is co-founded and supported by Ceva.

The WVA Animal Welfare Awards aim to recognise and reward veterinarians who have provided outstanding and exemplary welfare-related services to animal owners, hostels, fellow veterinarians, and the general public. Each winner will have demonstrated best practices in their consistent commitment to improve and educate about the welfare of animals.

The Global Animal Welfare Awards will be presented to one selected veterinarian from each of the six WVA regions - North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, North Africa/Middle East and Asia/Oceania.

WVA president Dr René Carlson said: "The WVA applauds this partnership with Ceva Animal Health to recognise veterinarians from around the world for their efforts to improve animal welfare and eliminate animal suffering.  Such recognition is not only important, it is necessary to bring continued awareness to the benefits of good animal welfare for animals, people, and society.  It is well recognized that good animal care can have far reaching and positive benefits in a number of areas, including human physical and psychological health, social development, poverty and hunger reduction, disaster management and environmental sustainability."

Ceva chairman and CEO Dr. Marc Prikazsky said: "I am very proud that as chairman of Ceva, we are able to accompany the WVA in the creation of these important new awards. As a veterinarian, I have felt for some time, that the profession needed to bring welfare back to the centre of what we do. Animals contribute enormous value to our society and as veterinarians, we have a pivotal role to ensure that their health and welfare is always a priority.  I look forward meeting the inaugural winners of the awards".

The WVA Animal Welfare Awards Ceremony will take place in Incheon, South Korea, during the 33rd World Veterinary Congress where the winners will be invited to receive a monetary award of EUR5,000.

- Ceva