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Former Formby High School
student wins international animal welfare award
Photos with thanks to:- WWT London
Wetland Centre.
A former Formby High School student
Sean Wensley has been awarded the World Veterinary Association (WVA) Global
Animal Welfare Award for Europe, on 29 August 2017, at the 33rd World Veterinary
Congress in South Korea.
Sean's interest in animal welfare science was 1st sparked as an undergraduate
student at the University of Liverpool Veterinary School when he was awarded a
Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) Vacation Scholarship to
investigate the welfare of caged zebra finches housed under typical pet shop
conditions. 6 years later, having been instrumental in developing BVA policy in
supporting a ban on the importation of wild caught birds in to the European
Union to be kept as pets, Sean was representing the position, which had been
adopted by the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE), in Brussels and an
EU-wide ban was introduced in 2007.
As British Veterinary Association (BVA) President 2015/16, Sean initiated and
led the production of BVA's Animal welfare strategy. Developed through
consultation with representatives from across the profession and other key
sector stakeholders:- 'Vets speaking up for animal welfare' lays
out a number of strategic actions based on the veterinary profession's unique
opportunity and responsibility to advocate animals' best interests at
individual, community and political levels. The strategy aims to further expand
BVA's animal welfare advocacy; provide tools and support to BVA members in areas
such as veterinary ethics; and foster collaboration with other animal welfare
focused partners such as the recently launched BVA/British Cattle Veterinary
Association (BCVA) position paper promoting analgesic use alongside local
anaesthesia for routine surgical procedures on calves. To help build BVA's
international animal welfare agenda, Sean has recently been appointed as a
member of the FVE Animal Welfare Working Group.
Another key project during Sean's BVA
Presidency was the jointly led BVA/Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
Vet Futures project. He assisted in developing the Vet Futures report, which
identifies veterinary leadership in animal health and welfare as 1 of the 6 key
ambitions in its 2030 vision for the veterinary profession. While President he
also produced an online video with the international animal welfare organisation
World Animal Protection on the importance and relevance of animal sentience to
the veterinary profession.
Current British Veterinary Association President Gudrun Ravetz, said:-
"Improving animal welfare has always been the focus of Sean's veterinary career,
through veterinary practice and policy and developing the profession's role in
advancing animal welfare. Since his undergraduate research and subsequent
postgraduate studies in animal welfare, he has undertaken a wide range of
overseas volunteer projects and continues to champion and promote understanding
of animal welfare at individual, community, national and international levels on
a daily basis. Sean also led on BVA's landmark Animal welfare strategy,
championing the role of vets as advocates of animals' best interests and sending
a clear signal that the veterinary profession will be a considerable force for
good, for animals and for an increasingly compassionate society in the years
ahead. Sean has made a difference to the lives of many animals with his
dedication to animal welfare. I am delighted that Sean is being recognised on an
international stage for his fantastic work in the field of animal welfare with
this important award."
Sean is Senior Vice President of BVA (2016/17) and Senior Veterinary Surgeon for
Communication and Education at veterinary charity PDSA, where he works with a
veterinary team that develops and delivers national advocacy on companion animal
health and welfare problems, as well as practice based animal welfare
initiatives with the charity's nationwide network of Pet Hospitals.
Throughout his veterinary career, Sean has delivered numerous lectures and
webinars on the role of the veterinary profession in improving animal welfare,
including as an honorary lecturer at the University of Nottingham, to the
International Veterinary Student Association (IVSA)'s animal welfare themed 2016
conference in Utrecht and, most recently, at the Australian Veterinary
Association Annual Conference, back in June 2017. He has undertaken several
overseas trips as a volunteer, working with government veterinarians, veterinary
students and on public outreach projects, to contribute to animal welfare and
conservation projects in:- Uganda, China, India, Ukraine, the Caribbean and
elsewhere.
On receiving his award, Sean said:- "It is excellent that WVA has further
underpinned its commitment to animal welfare, in line with global society's
expectation of our profession as animal welfare leaders, through the
establishment of the Global Animal Welfare Awards. It's a great honour to be a
recipient, which is tribute to my driven and forward looking colleagues at BVA
and PDSA. I thank them, as well as the many other organisations, institutions
and individuals who have given me invaluable opportunities and encouragement
during my career to date."
The Global Animal Welfare Awards, supported by CEVA Santé Animale and presented
by WVA Immediate Past President Dr René Carlson, were awarded to six veterinary
surgeons from each of the six WVA regions (North America, Latin America, Europe,
Africa, North Africa/Middle East and Asia/Oceania).
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