With thousands of companion animals being sold illegally across Europe, offering high profit at low risk for criminal networks, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA’s) Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee (AWWC) is to host a free webinar to update veterinary professionals in Europe on the online puppy trade. The webinar will also discuss the importance of new legislation introduced in the EU in April as part of the effort to stop the illegal trade and make pet sellers traceable and accountable.

The webinar will be led by Dr Katherine Polak, member of the WSAVA Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee (AWWC) and Head of Stray Animal Care – Southeast Asia for FOUR PAWS International, a global animal welfare organization. Other speakers include Dr Ann Criel, board member of the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations, and Joanna Randall, International Head of Campaigns – Companion Animals, FOUR PAWS.  The webinar will be moderated by Dr Natasha Lee, Chair of the AWWC and will include a live Q&A.

Dr Polak explained: “The illegal puppy trade is one of the most seriouscompanion animal welfare issues in Europe and combatting it effectively requires collaboration between a range of stakeholders, including governments, online marketplaces, animal welfare groups, owners and, of course, veterinarians. In April 2021, the new EU Animal Health Law came into effect so we will also highlight the new possibilities it brings, present a new technical solution for blocking illegal puppy dealers from accessing the online marketplace, and discuss the important role veterinarians can play in ending the illegal online puppy trade.”

Dr Natasha Lee, WSAVA AWWC Chair, added: “Veterinary professionalsregularly have to deal with the repercussions of illicit breeding and trading when presented with clinically ill and sometimes dying puppies and distraught owners. Our webinar will equip veterinarians in Europe with the knowledge to play their part in upholding the new legislation and to contribute to new solutions for regulating the online puppy trade.

Fonte:  WSAVA
https://wsava.org/