Vertebrate animals are to be recognised as sentient beings for the first time in UK law after the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill was introduced in May. With sentience part of domestic law, new legislation must acknowledge that animals can experience feelings such as joy or pain.
Continue ReadingThe Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association has announced that the 2014 Practitioner of the Year is Mary Porter, a clinician in Sydney. The award did not surprise Porter’s colleagues, who applauded her diagnostic and psychological skills and said, “She enjoys complex cases, listens to her clients and likes to give emotional support to owners.” Porter […]
Continue ReadingAustralia is a wealthy, modern, civilised, country. Many Australians would say that our country, on the whole, looks after its citizens fairly well. We might also think that Australia cares well for its animals. Perhaps we even believe that Australia is one of the world leaders in animal welfare; and that, as Gandhi said, the […]
Continue ReadingWestern Australian ornithologist Geoffrey Lodge has been recognised for his work studying birds as part of the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2011. Geoffrey Lodge was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia, for service to ornithology which caps a remarkable career involving over forty years volunteer work studying birds in association with the […]
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