On World Animal Day this year, we are highlighting the fact that so many animals around the world have no access to the vital veterinary care they need – particularly in developing countries.
In the UK and other higher income nations, most animals – including our precious pets at home – are thankfully able to see a vet whenever they may need. But too many animals in the world’s poorest countries are completely overlooked.
Across Africa and elsewhere, a severe shortage of vet services means animals must endure pain and suffering when they become sick and injured. Working animals are some of the worst affected.
Thankfully, SPANA is offering a lifeline to working animals in many communities – providing essential, free vet treatment that simply wouldn’t be available otherwise. Our vets are often their only hope.
SPANA believes that all animals deserve the right to high quality veterinary care – including working animals in impoverished communities throughout the world. This World Animal Day, we’re asking for your support to ensure that no animal has to suffer in silence.
Our celebrity supporters say…
Pam St Clement said: “I always dreamed of becoming a vet when I was younger. Ultimately, I ended up pursuing the path into acting, but my aspiration had been to help animals that were sick and in distress. I have enormous admiration for the veterinary profession – and particularly for organisations like SPANA that care for animals in the world’s poorest communities. SPANA vets provide treatment to working animals that would otherwise never receive help. In the most challenging conditions, they bring hope and ease suffering in remote and impoverished places, where working animals are lifelines. Without SPANA, these animals would be forgotten, and I am grateful for the work they do to improve their lives.”
Dame Twiggy Lawson said: “Every day should be World Animal Day! In the UK, pets provide their owners – and everybody they meet – with unconditional love. The joy they give all year round is immeasurable and should never be taken for granted. Working animals are incredibly important to the families they support in the world’s poorest countries – and these animals deserve the same care and compassion as our precious pets. Please join me in supporting SPANA’s work to ensure these hardworking animals can live a life free from pain and suffering.”
Marc Abraham, celebrity vet, author, and animal welfare campaigner, said: “World Animal Day is the perfect time to recognise the amazing impact that SPANA’s work has on working animals in need across the world. It is far too easy to forget and take for granted how readily available health care is for our beloved pets and animals here in the UK, and more affluent countries. I’m pleased to support the lifesaving and essential work that SPANA vets carry out around the world.”
Carol Drinkwater, who starred as Helen Herriot in the original TV adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small, said: “SPANA provides vital, free veterinary care in some of the world’s poorest countries, where there is often a severe shortage of such services for animals and owners in need. Without SPANA, many working animals would have nowhere else to turn. This World Animal Day, please join me in supporting their incredibly important work.”
Dr James Greenwood said: “I’ve had the honour of visiting Morocco to see first-hand the work of SPANA and the challenges and issues my fellow vets face in such a difficult working environment. The mobile clinics that visit rural areas are a world away from the comfortable clinics we’re used to in the UK. There’s a huge need for the free veterinary care that SPANA provides. This World Animal Day, I’m sending my thanks to their fantastic vet staff, who are making a huge difference to working animals and the people who depend on them.”
Jake Humphrey said: “Every day in our house seems to be World Animal Day! From our chickens and guinea pigs, to Belle our lovely Lab. My children, Flo and Seb, have learned so much from the unconditional love they get back from all our pets. I understand that working animals are incredibly important to the families they support in the world’s poorest countries – but these animals deserve the same care and compassion as our precious pets. Please join me in supporting SPANA’s work to ensure these hardworking animals can live a life free from pain and suffering.”
Did you know…?
There are over 25,000 vets working across the UK
In Zimbabwe, there are only around 340 vets serving the entire country
Tanzania has a population of over 56 million – but the country has only around 725 vets
Mauritania – the 28th largest country in the world in size – has only 127 working vets
SPANA vets treated 388,702 animals in more than 25 countries in 2019
Last year, SPANA trained 4,387 veterinary professionals around the world, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to provide essential treatment to animals
Previous World Animal Day campaigns
World Animal Day 2019
For World Animal Day 2019, we are raising awareness about the positive effects animals can have on our mental health and wellbeing.
World Animal Day 2018
For World Animal Day 2018, we're raising awareness of overlooked animals – the working horses, donkeys, mules, camels and elephants that help globally.
World Animal Day 2017
To mark World Animal Day on 4 October, we are raising awareness about the essential role working animals play around the world, supporting the livelihoods...
World Animal Day 2019
For World Animal Day 2019, we are raising awareness about the positive effects animals can have on our mental health and wellbeing.
World Animal Day 2018
For World Animal Day 2018, we're raising awareness of overlooked animals – the working horses, donkeys, mules, camels and elephants that help globally.
World Animal Day 2017
To mark World Animal Day on 4 October, we are raising awareness about the essential role working animals play around the world, supporting the livelihoods...