Animal welfare has generally been seen as a goal of veterinary medicine since the formalization of the profession in the 19th and 20th centuries, but over the last two decades it has developed as a focused specialty within veterinary medicine. In acknowledgement of this, the American College of Animal Welfare (ACAW) has received recognition as a veterinary specialty by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The ACAW mission is “to advance animal welfare through education, certification, and scientific investigation.”
Carla L. Carleton, DVM, MS, DACT, and associate professor at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, is one of the 27 ACAW Charter Diplomates. As advocates for and practitioners in animal welfare, the Charter Diplomates dedicated six years to develop the standards and requirements for the College and the petition to present to the ABVS (American Board of Veterinary Specialties). Dr. Carleton serves on the ACAW Certifying Examination Committee and will be ACAW’s representative to the ABVS.
Dr. Carleton is well known for her international involvement in the health and welfare of working equids and was a catalyst, co-chairperson, lab instructor, and lecturer for the first Indian Association of Equine Practitioners weeklong conference in 2003.
She began her work in South Asia when she was asked to consult on equine reproductive problems in India. Since 1992, she has partnered with equine veterinary practitioners in India, Thailand, Cambodia, and Morocco. Her early efforts in Southeast Asia focused on the health and welfare of carriage ponies used by villagers in a northern Thai province. The carriage ponies have more than a 100-year history in Lampang, Thailand. The high phosphorous content of the rice-based diet in the region depletes the body’s calcium stores, resulting in severe deficits of calcium and the development of “Bighead” disease in working equids.
Drs. Carleton, Siraya Chunekamrai, and Nanna Luthersson co-founded the Lampang Pony Clinic (LPC) in April of 2004. The LPC provides basic health services to the equids of northern Thailand, in addition to farriery (foot care), nutrition, dentistry, and vaccines. As a direct result of improved animal health, Dr. Carleton says that the pony owners have also seen an increase in business, since tourists are much more willing to pay for carriage taxis when the pony is healthy and strong. As Dr. Carleton explained, “There was some concern about our intentions when we first offered assistance in the province. The local pony owners now see us as advocates for them and their ponies, and the LPC is a welcome asset in the community.”
Following the success of the LPC, Drs. Carleton and Chunekamrai opened another mobile equine clinic in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and are in early discussions planning for a working pony clinic in Vietnam. The work is rewarding—and challenging. “It’s particularly difficult for rural villagers to worry more about their pony’s welfare when their biggest concern may be feeding their children. We’re also working in communities where the leaders have traditionally been male. We look to make incremental changes, with quarterly educational seminars on pony health issues – building on the land grant model of creating wide access to learning. More readily than adults, children “get” how treating a pony kindly and meeting its needs leads to a positive outcome. A healthier working relationship and increased pony longevity directly impact the economic stability of a family,” observed Carleton. “It can be physically challenging for our team. In the northern provinces, we’re often on long drives far off paved roads, happy when we are offered felt sleeping mats on the floor of a villager’s home and a means of avoiding mosquito bites at night. It’s important to go where the needs are greatest.” Since the opening of the LPC, both human and animal welfare have benefited. With continued focus, further gains will certainly be realized.
Seeing how important veterinary care is for the animals and for the economic success of the people of Southeast Asia, Dr. Carleton’s participation in the development of ACAW was a natural one. The goal of the board is to advance animal welfare through education, certification, and scientific investigation. The first ACAW Certifying Exam for additional veterinarians to become specialized in animal welfare will be administered in July 2013. Veterinarians whose work has a significant animal welfare component can submit credentials to take future exams or seek advanced residency training to become eligible. MSU does not yet have a residency in the new specialty, but Dr. Carleton is looking forward to mentoring animal welfare candidates.
Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine is a world-renowned, accredited institute of veterinary education. The College continuously provides diverse academic opportunities to cultivate great scholars and better people. Advancing the art and science of veterinary medicine every day, MSU CVM is aided by research and is available to the public for the advancement of human and animal health. With more than 100 years of teaching excellence, CVM continues to prepare leaders, life-savers, and world changers to meet the challenges of Michigan, the nation, and the world.
December 14, 2012