The Western Balkans Veterinary Network for Animal Welfare (WBVN) was founded in 2008 by the RSPCA and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Skopje, Macedonia. It provides a unique platform for the advancement of animal welfare through education, research and professional training. It facilitates closer collaboration between key stakeholders and combines the research capabilities of seven major universities in the region with leading animal welfare research centres in Western Europe.

The WBVN was established primarily to encourage and develop best practice in animal welfare amongst veterinary professionals. We work with a wide range of stakeholder organisations to achieve this goal. We envisage a future when the WBVN will grow to include a wide variety of bodies drawn from other public, professional and academic fields, such as animal welfare NGOs, local government and educational bodies.

The WBVN aims to translate and disseminate the latest information and publications from around the world on the areas of animal welfare that most interest our partners. We will also support the production of original research, materials and guidance on models of best practice already operating within the Western Balkans.