The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) announced its support, in concept, for the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) last week, joining more than 20 other national and international veterinary groups in doing so.

The Executive Board of the AVMA voted to endorse the idea of a UDAW, taking the recommendation of the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee which had voted to support the initiative at its October meeting.

“The underlying objectives of the Declaration are aligned with the AVMA Animal Welfare Principles…which serve as an overarching guide for the AVMA when decisions are made regarding animal welfare matters,” wrote Executive Vice President W. Ron DeHaven in a letter to David Wilkins, chief veterinary advisor for the WSPA. 

The AVMA solidifies the strong backing for a UDAW from the international veterinary community by following similar resolutions from fellow international bodies the World Veterinary Association (WVA), the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) and the Commonwealth Veterinary Association, as well as the national veterinary associations of Australia, Britain, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, the Philippines, the Netherlands, Finland, New Zealand, Tanzania, Uruguay and Thailand.

© Photo credited to WSPA / Kim Muncaster