UBC Reports | Vol. 47 | No. 01 | Jan. 11, 2001

U.S. Humane Society praises UBC animal welfare program

Students who excel often pursue related research

The largest animal protection organization in the U.S. is citing an innovative UBC course as one of the top three of its kind in North America.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has selected "Animal welfare and the ethics of animal use" for their annual Animals and Society Course awards.

"Society is confronted with a bewildering range of compelling issues in the treatment of animals in agriculture, research, sport and companionship," says Moura Quayle, dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. "UBC's Animal Welfare Program is researching animal behaviour and other fields to find practical solutions. It is also reaching out to society to stimulate knowledge-based discussion and consensus-building."

"We received numerous entries and chose three that offer a solid academic grounding in animal protection issues," says Dr. Andrew Rowan, HSUS senior vice-president for research, education and international issues. The other universities being honoured are the University of Tennessee and the University of Illinois.

UBC's Animal Welfare Program was created in 1997 with support from the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), the B.C. Veterinary Medical Association, and a variety of agricultural organizations. It is a joint initiative of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and the Centre for Applied Ethics.

"This particular course is most enjoyable and rewarding," says Prof. David Fraser, co-chair of the program with Prof. Dan Weary. "Students are from diverse disciplines but share an intense interest in animal issues. We help them develop an intellectual framework for understanding the issues, including scientific, ethical, and practical perspectives."