July 29, 2019 | by Kim Sheppard and Tina Widowski, Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph

Public concern for animals used by society has evolved considerably, and today there is … a demand for change across all animal sectors

The Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare (CCSAW) at the University of Guelph is honoured to be a host sponsor of the 15th International Equitation Science Conference! Established over 30 years ago, the mission of CCSAW has always been to promote the welfare of animals through research, outreach and education, and this conference fits perfectly with our mandate. The conference highlights research on what we can do to improve the lives of horses using evidence-based approaches to understand our relationships with them, and the impact of how we interact with them during training and competition.

Public concern for animals used by society has evolved considerably, and today there is great sensitivity to animal welfare issues and a demand for change across all animal sectors. The Campbell Centre helps animals and society through its internationally-recognized research in animal welfare science conducted across a variety of species – including farm, zoo, lab and pet animals, as well as horses. We also regularly bring ‘science to the stable’ by communicating our research findings to key groups:

Scientists and academics in training
Students entering the workforce in the animal industries, animal care and the veterinary professions
Public and corporate policy makers who make decisions about the funding, research, regulation and economics of animal use
Regulatory agencies
People who directly work with or handle animals
Members of the broader community (the media, the public) who want to learn about animal welfare from credible sources
Advocacy groups – to ensure that they have accurate information and that any call for change is appropriate

CCSAW is North America’s largest group of faculty and students focusing on research and teaching in animal welfare. Our core faculty teach principles and applications of animal welfare in the undergraduate, veterinary and graduate programs across campus. Our Associated Faculty supervise well over 50 students conducting animal welfare research at the undergraduate, MSc, PhD and postdoctoral levels. We annually host a seminar series, research symposium and public lectures aimed at a wide audience. We have a very active Student Chapter whose members hold information sessions, facility tours, mock defences, and education programs for school-aged children. To learn more about our events, or to inquire about joining CCSAW as a graduate student, please visit www.uoguelph.ca/ccsaw.

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