The Global Veterinary Ethics Congress~Principles and Plans of Action

Donald H DeForge, VMD
Chair-Global Veterinary Ethics Congress

"Addressing connections between Ethics and the Human-Animal Bond"

Collaborative-Synergistic-Enlightening

www.SilverSandsVeterinary.com
1-800-838-3368
E-Mail DonDeForge100@gmail.com

The Principles of the Global Veterinary Ethics Congress:

1] Integrity, honesty, and truthfulness for the betterment of the Animal Kingodm~~
2] Beneficence: Acts of charity, mercy, and kindness with a strong connotation of doing good with all interactions concerning the Human-Animal Bond~~
3] Respect, Justice, and Integrity within the Five Freedoms~~
4] Veterinarians shall continue to study, apply and advance scientific knowledge, make relevant information available to pet advocates, colleagues, and the public, obtain consultation, and use the talents of other health professionals when indicated as proposed in One Medicine~~
5] There will be on-going review of the techniques in the continued betterment of zoo species; acquatic species; farm animals; service and therapy dogs; and all other members of the Animal Kingdom.

The Epithet:
The epithet of the Global Veterinary Ethics Congress [GVEC] concerns the union of the Human-Animal Bond and Ethics.
It centers on total freedom for all Members of the Animal Kingdom to live a quality~~~ pain-free life!

It cannot be described more clearly than in the words of Dr. Leo Buscaglia. "Only when we give joyfully without thought of gain, can we truly know what love means!"  In three words, the epithet of the Global Veterinary Ethics Congress is UNCONDITIONAL LOVE and CONCERN for the quality of life for all members of the Animal Kingdom.  [See Five Freedoms below]

The Five Freedoms:
"All animals should have the freedom “to stand up, lie down, turn around, groom themselves and stretch their limbs!" This is just the beginning of "The Freedoms" for all members of the Animal Kingdom as a foundation of the Global Veterinary Ethics Congress. 

Fifty years ago, Ruth Harrison, a British woman wrote “Animal Machines” which described intensive livestock and poultry farming practices. The outcry of the British public regarding the information in the book prompted the British Government to appoint a committee to look into the welfare of farm animals.

In 1965, the committee, chaired by Professor Roger Brambell presented the 85 page “Report of the Technical Committee to Enquire into the Welfare of Animals Kept under Intensive Livestock Husbandry Systems” which became known as “The Brambell Report.”

The report stated that animals should have the freedom “to stand up, lie down, turn around, groom themselves and stretch their limbs.” These freedoms became known as “Brambell’s Five Freedoms.”

As a result of the report, the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee was created to monitor the livestock production sector. In 1979, the name was changed to the Farm Animal Welfare Council and by the end of that same year; the Five Freedoms had been codified into the format below.

The welfare of an animal, which includes its physical and mental state, has been defined as the Five Freedoms:

1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst: by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigor.
2. Freedom from Discomfort: by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease: by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment
4. Freedom to Express Normal Behavior: by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.
5. Freedom from Fear and Distress: by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

The Five Freedoms are used as the basis for the actions for professional groups; including veterinarians and have been adopted by representative groups internationally including the World Organization for Animal Health and the Royal society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Most of the Animal Welfare audits developed for implementation on farms and in processing facilities are based on the Five Freedoms.[This article was published by Michigan State University Extension]. 

The Five Freedoms expand far beyond farm animals.  These same Freedoms apply to all members of the Animal Kingdom.  The Global Veterinary Ethics Congress will create partnerships with associations to enlighten and expand  compassionate care within the Animal Kingdom.

Dr. Leo Bustad The Human-Animal Bond and the Five Freedoms:

Dr. Bustad, Dean of the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine for a decade, was an outstanding educator, scientist and humanitarian, who is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in the field of human-animal interactions.  Among other things he founded the People-Pet Partnership, the first university-based community service program on the human-animal bond and was also co-founder and first Chair of the Delta Society (now Pet Partners).
Herein lies our commitment and responsibility to animal care.

We lost Dr. Bustad in 1998.  If here today, he would want each and every one of us to take a moment each day to enrich ourselves and the Animal Kingdom with a personal focus on the Human-Animal Bond.

Those of us who have been honored with a vocation in veterinary medicine [i.e. nurse;doctor; health care professional; or caretaken of the Animal Kingdom] have the greatest responsibility.

Global Veterinary Ethics Congress follows Buscaglia:

Dr. Buscaglia once said: "Don't spend your precious time asking: why isn't the world a better place?"....it will only be time wasted....The question to ask is: "how can I make it better?".....to that there is an answer!

Come join us as advocates and caretakers of the Animal Kingdom.

The proverb "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" puts forward the notion that, however difficult a task is, you can only complete it if you first start it. [Lao Tzu]