Animal Welfare Conversations

2024 - Reviewing the Animal Welfare Conversation

It’s the end of the year, so we took the chance to review the podcast. I still can’t believe that we’ve being doing this for a year now and had the chance to talk to so many people, about the great work they’re doing in relation to animal welfare.
It would be great, if you get a chance to go through the back catalogue and listen to some of the older episodes, but we wanted to highlight a few different things.
Education – this has been discussed in every single episode – in relation to the veterinary profession, owners, the public, government and just about everyone!
Charities are essential for animal welfare – we caught up with Dogs Trust, SSPCA, USPCA and Humanimal Trust and found out more about the scope of work that they undertake
People – animal welfare is inextricably linked to the welfare of people. Where there are problems with society, then there are problems with animal welfare.
You can find out more about some of our guests at:
Dogs Rehoming & Dog Rescue Charity | Dogs Trust
Home | Humanimal Trust | One Medicine for Humans and Animals
Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | SSPCA
USPCA | Protecting All Animals
The Leading UK Dog Magazine - Dogs Today Magazine
Saving Wildcats | Scottish wildcat conservation and recovery | Saving Wildcats
Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance – Providing information and education to veterinary professionals in the field of osteoarthritis
All-party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group
University of Glasgow - Postgraduate study - Taught degree programmes A‑Z - Advanced Practice in Veterinary Nursing
Vet Sustain
BVA policy - Animal welfare strategy
 
Books by our guests:
One Welfare in Practice: The Role of the Veterinarian - 1st Edition –
Dr Matt Morgan
Through A Vet’s Eyes by Dr Sean Wensley | The home of non-fiction publishing
Thank you to everyone for taking part in the podcast, and for listening - and we're looking forward to more conversations in 2025. 

Prof Simon Girling - Reintroducing native species

Welcome to the next episode of The Animal Welfare Conversation. This week we are joined by Prof Simon Girling. Simon has worked with zoological collections for the past 15 years, and has been involved with many different reintroduction programmes in Scotland and across the UK. In this episode we find out what it takes to successfully reintroduce a species.
The Scottish Beavers Reinforcement Project | BIAZA
Scottish Beavers | Beaver reintroduction | Scottish Wildlife Trust
Saving Wildcats | Scottish wildcat conservation and recovery | Saving Wildcats
Cairngorms Connect | News Item
 
Prof Simon Girling
Simon worked in general practice and government before focussing on zoological medicine. He was awarded the RCVS Certificate in Zoological Medicine in 1999 and the Diploma in Zoological Medicine (Avian) in 2002 and RCVS Specialist status in 2003 being the first vet in the country to obtain the avian specialism.
In 2012 he became the first vet in the UK to be awarded European Veterinary Specialist in Zoo Health Management and was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2016 for Meritorious Contributions to Practice
Simon is a past president of the British Veterinary Zoological Society and the European College of Zoological Medicine and set up the first UK veterinary residency training position in 2013 that leads to EU recognition as a veterinary specialist in Zoo Health Management. He currently advises the UK and Devolved Governments on animal welfare, both captive and wild through his work on a number of committees including DEFRA's Zoo Experts Committee (which he has chaired since 2018), DEFRA's Animal Welfare Committee and the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission.
​​Simon recently completed a PhD focussing on the reintroduction of the Eurasian Beaver to the UK and has worked on many different reintroduction programmes including water voles, wildcats and pine hover flies.
He lectures widely in the UK and Europe on many different aspects of zoological medicine, both to vets and veterinary nurses and has written widely on this subject, including the core text for veterinary nurses on exotics - 'Veterinary Nursing of Exotic Pets' now in its 2nd edition (3rd edition out in April 2025). 

Mike Flynn MBE - A career in animal welfare

In this episode we were lucky enough to catch up, earlier this year, with Mike Flynn MBE, Chief Superintendent of the Scottish SPCA, and we caught up just before he retired, to find out more about his 37-year career protecting animals both across Scotland and further afield. We consider the achievements of this career and challenges of working in animal welfare, including organising the largest dog-fighting capture in Europe, in 1991, that resulted in 31 arrests and convictions.
We highlight the work of the Scottish SPCA, and how they work within current legislation. 
We look at the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act of 2006, which granted Scottish SPCA inspectors statutory powers, and we also look at more recent achievements in relation to animal welfare, including a ban on snaring, which has been effective in Scotland from November 2024.
Mike advocates for better enforcement of animal welfare laws, including a national register for animal abusers and stronger penalties. And on a lighter note, we also share memorable cases, such as transporting a crocodile to Spain and rescuing an ostrich in Leith Walk, Edinburgh.
On thing that we hope everyone takes away from this conversation is the urgent need for Government to update the Veterinary Surgeons Act of 1966 - a lot has changed over the last 58 years and this really is something that needs to be considered. 
We hope you will join the animal welfare conversation.
 
Links for further information:
Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | SSPCA
SSPCA 2024 Winter Appeal TV advert
Home - Safeguarding People And Animals - The Links Group
Animal Welfare Act 2006
Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006
Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011
Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966
 
Biography: Mike Flynn MBE
Mike recently retired as Chief Superintendent of the Scottish SPCA, having started working for them in 1987. Mike set up the Scottish SPCA undercover unit, tackling areas of cruelty including organised dog fighting, badger baiting and puppy farming, and also wrote the first Inspectors’ Instruction manual approved by the Crown Office.
Within the Scottish SPCA Mike was responsible for all uniformed staff of the society; all Parliamentary issues relating to animal welfare for both devolved and reserved issues; and dealing with all animal welfare related Government consultations, including the provision of oral evidence to both Scottish and Westminster Committees. He has assisted in the implementation of animal welfare legislation around the world including Jersey, North and Southern Ireland, Canada and Catalonia.
Mike is a founder member of the original Links Group (exploring the link between animal and human abuse), is an independent external animal welfare advisor and was awarded an MBE in the Queens 80th birthday honours list for services to animal welfare in Scotland. He is an Honorary associate of the BVA (British Veterinary Association) and RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) and advises Scottish Government through membership of the Scottish Government’s Animal Welfare Commission.
 
 

Dr Paula Boyden - The Links Group and Freedom Project

Trigger warning
This is part 2 of an episode that we recorded with Dr Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust. This extra episode focusses on domestic abuse, and how the work of the Dogs Trust and The Links Group supports people, and provides foster homes for the dogs of people who find themselves affected by domestic abuse. 
16 days of activism against gender based violence takes place from 25th November until 10th December - you can find out more about this here. 
If you are interested in supporting Dogs Trust as a foster carer then you can find out more here. 
Find out more about:
Freedom Project
The Links Group
 
 

Episode 20 - Dr Paula Boyden - Dogs Trust

In this episode we catch up with Dr Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust, to find out more about their work. Dogs Trust is the largest dog welfare organisation in the UK, rehoming 14,000 dogs a year and many of you will be familiar with their work.  Alongside their rehoming work, they work across public affairs, outreach, and dog behaviour. A current focus for them is  the push for stronger legislation to address puppy smuggling, a topic which we find out more about, as well as discussing the current challenges of dangerous dogs legislation. But their work doesn’t just focus on dogs – a large part of their work is about people.
And so we decided to split this interview into 2 parts, with part 1 focussing on Dogs Trust, and part of 2 focussing on their work around domestic abuse, through key projects like Freedom for domestic abuse survivors, and Paula’s work with The Links Group.
25th November to 10th December marks 16 days of activism against gender based violence; and it will be no surprise there is a spike in domestic abuse incidents around Christmas. The work of the Freedom project and The Links Group is important all year, but particularly around Christmas, and so we wanted to highlight this.
So, there will be another special episode of the podcast released on Monday.
 
Further information
Dogs Rehoming & Dog Rescue Charity | Dogs Trust
The Links Group
Freedom (fostering for dogs belonging to people fleeing domestic abuse)
Puppy Smuggling – Westminster - recent news
 
Biography
Paula Boyden graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London in 1992. She spent 11 years in general practice, before moving into a technical role in industry in 2003. Paula joined Dogs Trust in 2010, where she is now Veterinary Director. Her responsibilities include oversight of Dogs Trust’s veterinary matters, outreach and public affairs work.  
Paula has a particular interest in the link between abuse of animals and abuse of people and is current Chair of the Links Group. She also chairs the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG), is vice chair of the Canine and Feline Sector Group, sits on the RSPCA’s Prosecutions Oversight Panel and is a member of the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission. Paula is a founder member of the Association of Charity Vets.  
In 2017, Paula received BSAVA’s J A Wight Memorial Award for her contribution to the welfare of companion animals, and in 2023 the WSAVA’s Global One Health Award.

Episode 19: Prof Cathy Dwyer - Using the Evidence to Support Animal Welfare

In this episode we sit down with Professor Cathy Dwyer of SRUC and Edinburgh University. 
Prof Dwyer will be known already, to many of our listeners, as an advocate for animal welfare. There were so many take-aways from this episode that it's difficult to highlight a few main points, but here goes - sentience, current challenges in animal welfare, generating and applying evidence to animal welfare, education, and influencing government policy to name a few! 
We also reflect on people, rather than animals, as I came away from our conversation thinking about how human behaviour impacts on animal welfare. 
Whether you’re a student of animal welfare, someone working with animals or an animal keeper, this episode has something for everyone. We would love you to join the animal welfare conversation.
 
Further Information:
Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education
International work supporting animal welfare
 
Biography: Professor Cathy Dwyer, BSc, PhD
Cathy is Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare at SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) and has a joint appointment with the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (RDSVS), University of Edinburgh where she is the Director of the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education (JMICAWE) since 2016. In 2019 she was also appointed by Scottish Government to Chair the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission which provides independent scientific advice on animal welfare to Ministers and parliamentary committees.
Cathy has research interests in parturition, mother-offspring interactions and behavioural development in ruminants; human-animal interactions and welfare in horses; welfare assessment in a number of species, and assessment of pain.
She teaches animal behaviour and welfare to undergraduate vet students, vet nurses and animal science students, and contributes to the University of Edinburgh MSc Programmes in animal behaviour and welfare on campus and online. Cathy sits on the scientific advisory committees for Dog’s Trust, the Horse Trust, British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation, the Scientific Advisory Board of the Global Animal Partnership and University of Vienna Veterinary School.
She was the 2013 recipient of the BSAS/RSPCA Award for outstanding achievement in animal welfare and led the application that resulted in the RDSVS being awarded the first CEVA Animal Welfare Vet School Award in 2020.

Episode 18: Nora Smith and the work of the USPCA

In this episode we focus on the work of the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, otherwise known as the USPCA. 
Established in 1836, the USPCA is the second oldest animal welfare charity in the world, and we were delighted to have the chance to talk to Nora Smith, Chief Executive. 
The USPCA work across many different areas of animal welfare including rehoming, working with wildlife, providing veterinary care, animal cruelty investigations, community support and campaigning, particularly around the illegal puppy trade and badger baiting, amongst other things. 
There are lots of challenges in animal welfare, but you'll hear many examples of how the USPCA is influencing, supporting, campaigning and improving the lives of animals and people across Northern Ireland. 
Find out more about the work of the USPCA here 
Speaker Biography
Nora Smith, is the Chief Executive of the USPCA, she has been in post since January 2023.  As CEO her role is to lead the staff team to grow and extend the charity’s services across Northern Ireland.  Prior to working with the USPCA, Nora was the Chief Executive of a membership-based charity providing leadership support for Charity Chief Executives, a post she held for eight years.  She has experience of working across the public, private and third sectors, leading change and growth strategies.  Advocacy and campaigning have been a central function of her experience.  Nora lives with her partner Michael, alongside their eight-year old cat called Eamonn and Cooper a three-year energetic Labrador.

Episode 17 - What impact does behaviour have on animal welfare? With Nikki McLeod

Episode 17 - What impact does behaviour have on animal welfare?
With Nikki McLeod BSc(Hons) PGDip(CAB) NCert(Behav) RVN ISFM CertFN & AdvCertFB 
In this episode we focus on animal behaviour and the impact behavioural problems can have on animal welfare. We consider how important it is for all veterinary professionals to understand animal behaviour both to prevent and cure problems. We also focus on veterinary nursing, and the need for veterinary nurses to play a key role in improving animal welfare through behavioral awareness and education. Along the way Nikki tells us more about her career, taking time out, and following her own path in the world of animal behaviour.
A crazy cat lady and self-confessed study geek, Nikki has been a RVN since 2000. With her fingers in many pies, she splits what little time she has, between working as the Cat Advocate, and a consulting nurse, for a small animal practice in Fife, Scotland, as well as studying for multiple certificates.Not satisfied with gaining her first undergraduate degree at the age of 50, she has now gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Animal Behaviour from the University of Edinburgh. She has a vision of becoming a practice-based Clinical Animal Behaviourist in the near future.She is also keeping a British Veterinary Nursing Association Council seat warm for three years, while also campaigning for promoting excellence in animal behaviour and training as a trustee for the Animal Behaviour and Training Council. When work and studies doesn’t consume her brain, her husband and kids fry it gently and keep her on her toes. Sleep is optional.
Find out more about:
https://bvna.org.uk/blog/category/protect-the-title/
https://catfriendlyclinic.org/
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/how-we-help/professionals/vet-clinics
https://abtc.org.uk/
www.Instagram.com/nurse_positiVety
BehaviouRVNs | Podcast on Spotify

Episode 16 - Prof Stuart Carmichael - The impact of arthritis on animal welfare

Welcome to the latest collection of conversations, focussing on the world of animal welfare. We’re going to start this season by considering pain, analgesia and arthritis, with Professor Stuart Carmichael.
Did you know that 40% of all dogs, across all ages, have pathological osteoarthritis? And that the condition can be detected in dogs as young as 6 months of age. 
Or that 80% of cats over 10 years old with have arthritis? 
In this episode we consider osteoarthritis, consider how this can affect young and older animals, and the challenges associated with recognising chronic pain. We look at the long term management, rather than acute relief of chronic pain, including monoclonal antibodies, regenerative techniques using stem cells and owner education. One of the main themes from this conversation is the team approach to this condition and we look at how the traditional 10-15 minute veterinary consultation needs to change to provide animals and their owners with a more rounded approach to pain management. We discuss the Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance initiatives including the Blue Paw Award and practice accreditation scheme.  We also discover some of the surprising similarities between the management of osteoarthritis and dermatology cases!  
Prof Carmichael has a wide experience as a specialist clinician in orthopaedics and in veterinary business management. He is Diplomate, a past Specialist and current Fellow of the RCVS.  He has been Director of both Queen Mother Hospital and Small Animal Hospital at Glasgow and Professor of Clinical Studies and Associate Dean for Clinical Services at Glasgow University.
He has also been National Referrals Director at Vets Now Ltd, a Director at Fitzpatrick Referrals Ltd. and visiting Professor at University of Surrey.
Charity roles have included acting as Board member and Chair of International Cat Care and as a trustee and Board member of Blue Cross. He is currently running a veterinary consultancy business, Joint Adventures Ltd., is a Co-Founder and Board member of the Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance and is also Director and Co-founder of Aim-OA Ltd., providing a web-based Disease Management System for chronic osteoarthritis in dogs. 
Further information:
Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance – Providing information and education to veterinary professionals in the field of osteoarthritis
Blue Paw – Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance
Practice Accreditation Scheme – Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance
Treated Like Animals - Simmons - 9781784273415 – Pelagic Publishing
Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are? 

Announcing a new award for animal welfare

Sneak preview!
We are still finalising things, but I wanted to let you know that Animal Welfare Conversations is launching a new award for Animal Welfare. 
The Alex Fraser Medal for Animal Welfare will be awarded on an annual basis to someone who has shown outstanding commitment to improving the lives of animals. 
More information about how to nominate someone (or put yourself forward for consideration) will be available soon, but I wanted to let you know that this will be happening later in the year, so you can start thinking about your animal welfare heroes now. 
More information will be on the website soon and you if you sign up to the podcast newsletter then you'll be the first to know about things. 
In the meantime we've been recording new interviews with some amazing guests, and the podcast will be back to normal in a few weeks, after the summer break!