The challenges in animal welfare faced by young veterinary students are manifold. Whether the issue concerns so-called ‘farm’ animals, pets, laboratory animals or zoo animals, the problems that urgently need to be resolved are glaringly obvious. This makes it all the more important to provide the vets of the future with thorough training in subjects such as animal behaviour, animal ethics and law. Alongside key disciplines such as these, however, it is at least as important to give students a holistic insight into the day-to-day reality of these animal welfare issues and to foster their sensitivity and empathy towards animals. With this in mind, we are particularly pleased that the Department of Laboratory Animal Science and Animal Welfare at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, is offering an elective module that focuses exclusively on the work of animal welfare organisations. The aim is to give students an insight into the diverse challenges facing animal welfare, whilst also opening up potential career paths. Animals’ Angels had the opportunity to present our organisation’s work on two occasions and to provide an insight into our day-to-day operations through selected projects. The students were thus given an overview of selected topics relating to animal welfare during transport. Despite the event being held online, the students’ concern and keen interest were clearly evident. We would like to express our sincere thanks for the students’ enthusiastic participation and valuable contributions.
Special thanks also go to the organising team at the University of Giessen, who made this event possible and organised it so superbly.
