Event

Animal lovers, hunters, farmers and all other interested persons are invited to Different Animals, Same Needs: An Animal Welfare Seminar, hosted by the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM), and sponsored by the European Union and Pedigree Brand. It takes place Saturday July 20, 1-6pm, at Amphitheatre B of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mount Hope,

The SVM is the nation’s leading academic contributor in the animal health and welfare arena, and sees animal welfare as one of the most important issues for our animal population. As a people we are often ignorant to the needs of the animals we interact with on a daily basis, be it for food or companionship. Different Animals, Same Needs seeks to provide the people of Trinidad and Tobago with the necessary knowledge to ensure that they are able to meet their animals’ physical and psychological needs.

The seminar will address the themes of Animal Welfare and Public Health, Animal Welfare and Public Safety, Farm Animal Welfare, Companion Animal Welfare, Recommendation for Pro-Animal Welfare Legislation, Wildlife Welfare and Animal Welfare support systems, with the aim of helping attendees to understand what is considered animal abuse, the psychological and physical effects of abuse on animals, why animal welfare is important, and best welfare practices with regards to farm, companion and wild animals.

Designed to be highly interactive and informative, and geared towards the average citizen, a key component of the seminar is the premiere of an animal abuse/animal welfare awareness documentary titled "Silent Victims". This is considered an important tool in the fight for animal welfare as awareness about common and prevalent animal abuse practices in our society can be created across multiple and varied audiences. The documentary also seeks to encourage people to obtain information on how to best care for their animals.

Key speakers are Dr. Locksley L. Messam, Post-doctoral Scholar at the University of California Davis, where he researches human-animal interactions, the effects of animals on human health and well-being, and epidemiological methodology, and The UWI’s own Professor of Animal Science, Gary Garcia, whose main areas of research include production of cattle and wildlife management.

The seminar is therefore a comprehensive public information tool with the purpose of improving the quality of life for all animals nationwide. Such a session is ideal if you care about animals, or are simply curious about the subject matter. Let us come together to make the world a better place for both humans and animals.