Dr Silvina Muñiz, an Argentinian veterinarian who uses mass media to educate owners about responsible pet ownership and who campaigns on animal welfare issues, is the recipient of this year’s World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Award for Companion Animal Welfare.

Since 2004, Dr Muñiz has presented a TV show called ‘VETv/Canal Vet’, which educates owners as to how to care for their pets and informs them about disease prevention. Its content is endorsed by respected veterinary associations and institutions, including the Universidad de Buenos Aires and the Asociación de Veterinarios de Animales de Compañía de Argentina (AVEACA). AVEACA is a member association of the WSAVA.

In addition to VETv, Dr Muñiz regularly contributes educational content to a range of veterinary online portals, magazines, newspapers and veterinary conferences. She also participates in TV and radio programs in which pet care and welfare is discussed. In 2019, she played a leading role in a debate held in the Argentine National Congress Lower House regarding reform of Law No. 14,346 in Argentina, which covers the prevention of animal cruelty.

Dr Muñiz graduated from the Universidad Nacional de La Plata in 1987 and has continued her own veterinary education with post-graduate courses on topics including Clinical Medicine, Internal Medicine, Radiology and Ethology. She has also interviewed leading veterinary professionals at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain, and UC Davis Veterinary Medicine, USA., to gain insights on health prevention and client education for companion animals, both at teaching hospitals and in veterinary practice settings.

In addition to her media work, she is a director of veterinary hospital VET Clínica in Buenos Aires and veterinary director of Dog Run Argentina, an association which oversees the health and welfare of dogs participating in sport. Dr Muñiz was Chair of AVEACA from May 2017 until May 2022 and is currently its Vice President. She is also the Argentine Representative to the Federación Iberoamericana de Asociaciones Veterinarias de Animales de Compañía.

Commenting on the Award to Dr Muñiz, Dr Cheryl Good, member of the WSAVA’s Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee (AWWC), said: «The recipient of this year’s WSAVA Companion Animal Welfare Award was selected by a panel comprising three AWWC members; a member of the WSAVA Executive Board and a member of the Local Host Committee for this year’s World Congress.

«All of the nominees were worthy candidates which made our decision very diffic