About Vetwork UK
Why Vetwork UK?
In the late-1980s we, a group of mainly veterinarians with an interest in human-animal realationships and animal health and welfare, particularly with community-based projects, started sharing ideas and field experiences on an informal basis. Promotion of local skills, and the social and environmental aspects of animal keeping, particularly in poor or marginalised communities, were of particular interest. Though much of our experience at that stage was outside Britain, many of the issues were equally relevant in the UK.
Together we founded Vetwork to share this experience more widely and to do small, useful pieces of work. Vetwork projects tend to be self-administering so we do not need to employ core staff.
In January 1998 we became a registered charity in Scotland, with the following aims:
- To develop existing action research interests in human-animal relationships, animal welfare and social aspects of animal ownership in the UK and overseas.
- To provide technical and project support to proposed or ongoing livestock projects in developing countries. Vetwork works with other NGOs and bilateral and multilateral agencies.
- To collate and disseminate experiences in primary animal health and welfare service delivery in the context of veterinary service reform. Vetwork has particular experience in community-based services, participatory approaches and methods, and indigenous knowledge systems.
The Vetwork website
This website has the following aims:
- to facilitate debate, and the sharing of information and experience, both in the UK and internationally, about the development and provision of animal health and welfare services;
- to explore the links between the health and welfare of humans, animals and the environment;
- to provide an information resource and discussion forum for veterinary surgeons, animal welfare professionals, and others involved in animal health care;
- to encourage debate about specific practical issues, as well as the social and ethical context in which animal health services operate.
Of particular international interest, Vetwork aims to:
- facilitate discussion about different models of animal health service;
- improve understanding of ethno-veterinary knowledge and how it can be incorporated into animal health services;
- support an holistic approach to working with communities and their animals, based on principles of community participation, flexibility and a 'process' approach;
- encourage models of animal health service delivery based on these approaches combined with sound technical knowledge and field experience;
- contribute to improved access to animal health and welfare services.
Of particular UK interest, Vetwork aims to:
- encourage greater debate within the profession about ethical and social aspects of veterinary work;
- encourage greater public access to information about animal health and welfare.
If you would like an article relevant to the above considered for inclusion on the Vetwork website, please submit it to Vetwork.
You would need to provide contact details for anyone wanting to find out more.
Access to Website
We would like Vetwork to be accessible to as many vets and other animal health workers as possible.
We have chosen to use e-mail and an Internet homepage as the primary means of communication because they are both potentially cheap and quick compared to the production of a magazine.
However, we are aware that many people do not have access to e-mail or the Internet.
Please share the information on this web-site as widely as possible with people who may not have access directly themselves.
Vetwork Contact details
Vetwork UK
34 Melville Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7HA
UK
e-mail Vetwork UK
Directors
- Suzan Bishop is a veterinarian with a Masters in Tropical Veterinary Science. Her interests include community-based livestock development, in particular training of animal health workers, and she has country work experience in Bolivia, Eritrea, Southern Sudan, Kenya and Zambia. e-mail Suzan
- Tim Leyland is a veterinarian with 25 years of development experience. He has particular interests in veterinary and livestock policy, legislation, training, emergencies, welfare and trade. He currently resides in New Zealand where he manages his own livestock using sustainable farming practices and carries out consultancy work. e-mail Tim
- David Hadrill is a veterinarian who has lived and worked in India, the Caribbean, Somalia, Mongolia and Ethiopia. He has worked as consultant trainer, evaluator or technical specialist in many countries specialising in disaster relief, disease control and community-based animal health care. e-mail David
- Sarah Morgan is a veterinarian whose interests include animal welfare and overseas aid. Sarah has worked in Mozambique for VetAid, run a veterinary practice in Suffolk UK, and now resides in France and continues to work in veterinary practice. e-mail Sarah
- Karen Reed is a veterinarian with a MSc in Tropical Veterinary Medicine who has worked in Nepal and Jordan. Her interests currently focus on international animal welfare, and working equids and she has spent the past 10 years in this field. e-mail Karen
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