Nominations are now open for the prestigious International Canine Health Awards, which are returning for the fifth year running to celebrate some of the world’s finest researchers and scientists whose work has had a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of dogs. The three categories for the International Canine Health Awards are:

• The International Prize in Canine Health: Awarded to an individual that has made an outstanding contribution to canine health and welfare, with a prize fund of £40,000 for future projects.
• The Lifetime Achievement Award: Presented to a veterinarian or scientist working in a related discipline who has dedicated much of their career to advancing the health of dogs, with a prize fund of £10,000.
• The Student Inspiration Awards: Awarded to one undergraduate  (£5,000 prize fund) and one postgraduate (£10,000 prize fund) student studying at a British veterinary school and demonstrating the potential to significantly advance the frontiers of veterinary medicine and research in the field of dogs.

Professor Steve Dean, Chairman of Trustees of the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, commented: “After four successful years, the International Canine Health Awards will once again, in 2017, recognise those scientists, veterinarians and other individuals who help provide dogs with a healthier future. Massive strides towards improving canine health have been made in recent years and through the generosity of the Vernon and Shirley Hill Foundation we are able to offer these awards to a global audience.”

All nominations can be made via an online application form; nominations close on 13 February 2017. For more information on the International Canine Health Awards, please visit the Kennel Club website.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) held the first meeting of their Brexit Presidential Taskforce on 26 July. The Taskforce was established following the EU referendum result on 24 June, with the central purpose of putting the profession in charge of its future by maximising the opportunities and minimising the risks of Brexit.

The Brexit Presidential Taskforce will proactively engage with the many possible changes that could shape the future of the UK veterinary profession due to Brexit. The terms of reference include:

• Considering how EU regulations currently impact the regulation of veterinary professionals in the UK, and making recommendations as to which should be maintained
• Looking at the issue of mutual recognition of veterinary graduates in Europe
• Considering workforce requirements and the implications of a new system of immigration
• Understanding the implications for the current RCVS agenda
• Considering whether a proactive RCVS agenda can influence any new UK legislation
• Reconsidering the College’s existing international strategy
• Studying the financial impact on the College

Dr Chris Tufnell, President of the RCVS, said: “Brexit has profound implications for our professions. The Presidential Taskforce is exploring all implications and will develop proposals that will seek to mitigate the risks and maximise the benefits that can flow to the veterinary professions and to animal welfare. We are working closely with representative bodies and others so that the veterinary professions have a coordinated and well executed plan in place. We are in discussions with all relevant Government departments, working collaboratively and constructively, ensuring that our voice is heard and our influence is felt.”

For more information please see the RCVS website.

If you’ve received your GCSE results and are interested in working with animals, see below for some options on what you could do next, and how The College of Animal Welfare could help you achieve your career goals…

Train as a veterinary nurse

If you love animals and are concerned with animal welfare; then becoming a veterinary nurse could be the ideal route for you! Veterinary nurses assist veterinary surgeons in practice, undertaking a range of duties such as taking blood and urine samples, taking x-rays, preparing animals for treatment, assisting during operations, administrative and cleaning tasks and carrying out minor procedures. The main route into veterinary nursing at CAW for those with 5 GCSEs at grade C or above including English Language or Literature, Mathematics and a Science subject, is our Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, which allows students to train as part of an apprenticeship. Completion of the course qualifies students to apply for professional registration as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN). For more information on eligibility criteria please visit our website.

Train as a veterinary care assistant

For those that would like to focus on animal welfare duties outside of surgery within a veterinary practice – such as exercising, grooming and feeding hospitalised animals, monitoring and providing supportive care to inpatients and cleaning and preparing accommodation for animals – training as a Veterinary Care Assistant would be an ideal career path! Veterinary Care Assistants work alongside veterinary surgeons and nurses in order to provide vital nursing care and ensure the wellbeing of small animal patients. Our Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants is an excellent course covering the underlying knowledge needed to thrive in a fast-paced veterinary care environment. Completion of this course, provided relevant qualifications in Maths and English are also achieved, allows students to train as veterinary nurse on the Level 3 Diploma programme if they wish to do so.

Train in animal care

Animal care training is suitable for those looking to find employment in animal care environments outside of veterinary practice; such as a zoo, stables, rescue centre, cattery or kennels. Depending on the role that you choose to undertake, your duties could range from cleaning, feeding and medicating animals, to educating the public on animal welfare and preparing animals for rehoming. Our animal care qualifications allow students to gain on-the-job training whilst earning a wage, and will cover a variety of animal care practices depending on your level of experience within the industry. For more information on careers within animal care you can visit our online career profiles.

Remember that there are many people, organisations and services out there to help you if you’re unsure about what you want to do next. You can speak with a member of our Customer Advice Team (CAT) on 01480 422060 if you’re interested in working with animals and would like an informal chat about post 16 career options.

The College of Animal Welfare is hosting its popular Careers with Animals Day at its centre in Leeds for the very first time on Saturday 15 October 2016! Whether you’re a school leaver working out your next career move or an adult looking for a career change – don’t miss out on the opportunity to find out more about the training and employment opportunities within the veterinary care and animal care sectors. Entry is completely free of charge! Find out more at www.careerswithanimalsday.co.uk