Organisations are also appealing to members to make donations
A donation of £7,000 has been made to the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Benevolent Fund by the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) and the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA).
The money will be used to assist the work of veterinary professionals who are providing care to animals caught up in the devastating bushfires. The BSAVA and the BEVA are also calling upon members to make a donation towards the cause.
“Throughout Australia there are massive areas of land reduced to tinder, thousands of homes and people’s livelihoods destroyed as well as the devastating effects of the fires on the millions of native animals,” said BSAVA president Sue Paterson.
“Whilst we can offer our support and offer condolences to the courageous people of Australia who are dealing with this natural disaster, BSAVA feel that we should be more proactive and we hope our membership will support our decision to make a donation to the Benevolent fund set up by the Australian Veterinary Association. As the welcome rains have arrived to help dissipate the flames, we feel financial support will help to nurture the green shoots as they start to appear.”
BEVA President Tim Mair added: “We have all been shocked and saddened by this ongoing tragedy but we’re full of admiration for the courageous and generous work being undertaken by our veterinary colleagues Down Under. This gesture of support will hopefully help to sustain the efforts to minimise suffering and rebuild”.
For more information about the AVA and to make a donation, visit www.ava.com
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
