Western Balkans Veterinary Network for Animal Welfare
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.
You can find out more about participating institutions here
The primary aim of the network is to facilitate greater understanding of animal welfare amongst the professional, industry and government bodies that have an impact on animal health and welfare. An improved understanding of animal welfare is essential if all countries in the Western Balkans are to become members of the European Union (EU). Candidate countries will have to adopt and implement over 30 standard EU directives and regulations related to animal welfare to join the EU, overcoming differences in public awareness, consumer attitudes and general perceptions of animal welfare. Through its work the network will enable smoother regulatory integration into the European Union by providing public veterinary administrators and other key stakeholders with an improved understanding of best practice in animal health and welfare. At the same time, the network will develop and deliver practical training and enforcement programmes to support state veterinary services as they begin to enforce OIE guidelines on stray management, slaughter and animal transport, and begin to regulate the use of laboratory animals in research and education. In so doing, the network will work to minimise transitional gaps during an exciting period of change in this region.
The work of the network is currently divided into three pillars: Companion Animals, Farm Animals and Research Animals. You can find out more about each area of our work by clinking on the links below.
