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This Morning’s Dr Scott Miller Amongst World-leading Experts Announced At Major Global Conference For Animal Welfare Sector
The 23rd International Companion Animal Welfare Conference (ICAWC) is being held in Nicosia, Cyprus, from 3-5 October 2023. ICAWC is a leading conference of its kind, bringing together hundreds of stakeholders from across the globe, to participate in workshops and hear from influential speakers, discussing all areas of companion animal welfare.
Delegates will be able to enjoy an action-packed schedule of topical, interactive and informative sessions, from disaster planning and the response to the invasion of Ukraine, to managing compassion fatigue.
The conference is held by Dogs Trust Worldwide and for the second year running, is supported by partner Purina Petcare Europe. Together, they have launched a number of initiatives to help animal welfare charities across Europe, providing development and funding opportunities. Purina Petcare Europe are co-hosting a panel session at this year’s ICAWC. Attendees will also have the opportunity to visit the 2nd Chance Dogs shelter in Nicosia, which can house 60 dogs at a time, with 30 spacious runs, 10 large play areas and a separate puppy block.
As part of the line up, new speakers have been announced for the conference including This Morning’s Dr Scott Miller. With a 20-year broadcasting career, Australian-born vet and author, Dr Scott is a regular face on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky. He is the resident vet on the ITV flagship show, This Morning, as well as the owner and principal veterinarian at three London practices.
Dr Scott, who will providing one of the keynote speeches at the conference, is a keen writer, regular contributor to broadsheets and magazines and, this year, he has been working alongside charities to support animals in Ukraine, travelling over to operate on injured dogs amid the ongoing war.
He will be speaking alongside animal welfare sector leading experts, such as Shannon Walajtys, Director of Disaster Response & Risk Reduction for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Drawing from decades of first-hand experience in disaster zones around the world, Walajtys advises governments and local partners in disaster-prone areas.
Dr Alicja Izydorczyk, International Director of Animal Welfare for the Soi Dog Foundation, will deliver a session around the importance of data collection for animal welfare, using a case study from the Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return process in Bangkok.
Also on the line up, author and animal welfare advocate Sara Turetta, President of Save the Dogs and Other Animals, will speak about protecting homeless dogs in Milan. Turetta founded Save the Dogs and other Animals Italy, while initiating spay and neuter projects in the country. In 2017, Turetta also opened a large veterinary clinic in Romania.
Dr Katherine Polak, Vice President of Companion Animals and Engagement for Humane Society International, works to improve companion animal welfare around the world through the humane management of street dog populations, community engagement and spay/neuter training. Dr Polak will join Karen Reed, Executive Director, Dogs Trust Worldwide, for an interactive panel discussion on disaster planning, contingencies and emergency response.
Dogs Trust Chief Executive, Owen Sharp, said: “We’re delighted to announce an incredible line up of speakers at ICAWC 2023 in Nicosia this year. The event is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate global collaboration and hear from experts in the animal welfare sector.
“Our international work enables us to create big, positive and sustainable changes in dog and cat welfare across the world, while helping more dogs worldwide to lead happy and healthy lives. We are proud of our international animal welfare community and look forward to an inspiring and impactful ICAWC 2023.”
Registration for the conference is open until 19th September 2023. Find out more information on the Dogs Trust Worldwide website.
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