Zoos, Nutrition, Farming to Be Examined at Animal Welfare Forum

September 11, 2008 - News Release

Zoo animal enrichment and behaviour, pet nutrition and more effective human-canine communication are among the planned topics at the ninth annual Animal Welfare Forum Sept. 20 at the University of Guelph.

Sponsored by the Ontario Veterinary College's Animal Welfare Club, the event is intended to raise awareness of animal welfare issues. Prominent researchers and leaders in animal welfare science will speak on current issues in animal welfare

The forum will be held in the OVC Lifetime Learning Centre from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is open to the public, with a suggested registration fee of $10 toward an annual scholarship for a graduate student in animal welfare.

OVC dean Elizabeth Stone will discuss the role of veterinarians in animal welfare. Other morning speakers are U of G Prof. Georgia Mason, holder of the Canada Research Chair in Animal Welfare, "Should Zoos Only Keep Species that Thrive in Captivity"; Anne Malleau, director of the Animal Compassion Foundation, "Animal Welfare in Organic and Non-Organic Systems"; and Greg Sunvold, a research scientist with P & G Pet Care, "Animal Nutrition and its Key Role in Animal Welfare."

Following a free lunch and poster competition, afternoon presentations will feature Prof. Andrew Luescher, director of the Animal Behaviour Clinic at Purdue University in Indiana, on "Communicating Better with Your Dog," and Ameet Singh, a second-year small animal surgery resident, on "Common Emergencies in Pets."

Registration details and more information are available online or by contacting Ken MacKenzie, kmackenz@uoguelph.ca.

For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338/l.hunt@exec.uoguelph.ca, or Deirdre Healey, Ext. 56982/d.healey@exec.uoguelph.ca.

University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
Canada
519-824-4120