Journals

The AWSELVA Journal presents high quality and topical information from leading experts in the field of animal welfare science, ethics and law.

AWSELVA Journal Winter 2009

Chairman's Column

With this column coming hot on the heels of our recent meeting in London (of which you can read elsewhere in the edition) it allows some reflection of the importance of the policy debate. This is timely given the recent publication of FAWC’s report 'Farm Animal Welfare in Great Britain: Past Present and Future’. Importantly reflecting on the ethical basis for the humane treatment of farm animals, the report also brings together many contemporary...
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AWSELVA Journal Spring 2009

Chairman's Column

At a recent meeting I was challenged (and not for the first time) to say whether or not a wild mouse experiences less of a welfare insult than its laboratory cousin, when subject to similar injury. This is not a new question but does present an interesting scenario which many of us will have considered, I expect. If the nociceptive event is similar, do possible differences in the perception and processing of pain by the animal matter or is the...
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AWSELVA Journal Summer 2008

Chairman's Column

International animal welfare concerns continue to attract the attention of the public. Usually these are highly charged issues and, as with any polarised “debate” such as the morality of using animals in scientific research, there seem to be few fora in which an objective or even, dare I say, rational debate can be held, and which will engage all the protagonists. In the case of the use of animals in scientific work, the Boyd Group has been a...
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AWSELVA Journal Summer 2007

Chairman's Column

The total income of the animal welfare “industry” over the past five years, raised in the United Kingdom, mostly through charitable donation, was in excess of £½ billion Sterling. Add to that sum the public money spent by local authorities, central government and regional institutions and the figure more than doubles. In return for public investment, how much better off are our animal populations? This is a very difficult question to answer....
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AWSELVA Journal Winter 2006

Chairman's Column

The Animal Welfare Act and the implications of the duty of care towards animals as set out in the Act have tended to dominate the agendas of animal welfare organisations over the past year. In this Spring quarter I would like to move the focus of AWSELVA’s efforts to the world’s poorer countries and international development. Sustainable development is the holy grail of the development sector and seeks to achieve a balance between the three...
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AWSELVA Journal Summer 2006

Chairman's Column

It is with great enthusiasm that I hand over the reins of office to Bill Swann as Chair of AWSELVA. He has a track record in the area of strategic planning that I hope will consolidate the small steps that I have taken during my term. I very much look forward to working with Bill as part of the old and the new team leading the organisation. This is yet another formative period in our history as we grow and develop, this time into post-juvenile...
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AWSELVA Journal Winter 2005

Chairman's Column

I would like to thank all members of the AWSELVA Committee (only I wasn’t!!) who were involved in the Duty of Care seminar in London in November for what was a very successful meeting. I also include the speakers who so generously gave of their time and effort. Bill Swann particularly deserves thanks for being the brains behind the programme and speakers, ably and enthusiastically supported by Leisha Hewitt and Becky Whay. I gather from some...
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AWSELVA Journal Summer 2005

Chairman's Column

Since my last column the Executive Committee have been very active putting together two conferences that we hope you will attend and enjoy. The long-term strategy is to hold two meetings a year: one in conjunction with species specific veterinary group, and the other to be one of our own choosing. To begin this programme we are aiming to look at the duty of care of veterinary surgeons under the new animal welfare law, to be held before the end...
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AWSELVA Journal Winter 2004

Chairman's Column

Pedants will, at once, recognise from the position of the apostrophe that this Column is not the work of a single author. Your retiring Chairman John Webster completed his stint with “And so farewell” in the previous edition and has no plans for a comeback. Unfortunately James Kirkwood, who had planned to take over the Chair, decided with regret that this could conflict with his position as Director of the Universities Federation for Animal...
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AWSELVA Journal Summer 2004

Chairman's Column

A.J. Webster, age 65¾ And so farewell, John Webster. “Five Freedoms for the Animals!” That was your cry. A modest number. But F.D.R. thought four sufficient for his fellow Americans. So five seems fair. If this article carries a hint of end-of-term euphoria, it is for good reason. This will be my last column as Chairman of AWSELVA. I shall officially retire from the University of Bristol on July 31st. What this means in effect is that...
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