VDS members and member practices are to be asked their opinions and approaches around sustainability to assist in the development of tools to help the veterinary profession.
The survey, launched on 22 April 2021, has been put together jointly by the VDS and Vet Sustain, a community interest company run by volunteers from all veterinary disciplines and the world’s first organisation dedicated to supporting the uptake of sustainable measures in the veterinary profession.
Jo Stonehewer MRCVS, VDS Director of Membership, said, “At the VDS, we are committed to protecting and supporting veterinary professionals, practices and businesses allowing our members to focus on animal health and welfare. The results of this survey will help us further understand the risks surrounding sustainability issues affecting veterinary practices so that we can continue to evolve to meet our members’ changing needs. Whatever people’s views of environmental and sustainability matters, we’d love to hear them so please take time to complete the survey on behalf of your practice. VDS are also independently committed to becoming a more sustainable organisation. We have recently become members of Investors in the Environment, to help us achieve that aim. We are really excited to be working with Vet Sustain on this survey and our collaboration is just one of the ways in which we hope to support the profession in this important area.”
Laura Higham MRCVS, Vet Sustain founder and Director, said, “The world is facing a multitude of complex and pressing challenges. Climate change, biodiversity depletion and public health pandemics are presenting existential threats to human civilisation and the natural world. We believe that veterinary professionals working together can be a leading force for sustainability helping secure the wellbeing of animals, people and the natural world. While some veterinary practices have already progressed a long way on their sustainability journey, we know that others are yet to start out and many do not know where to begin. We will use the results of this survey as a baseline to help direct our activities and resources to where they are most needed and to address these multiple challenges facing society.”
All those who enter the survey, which is being sent by email to VDS practices and members and shared on social media, will have the opportunity to enter a prize book draw to win “The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide” by veterinary surgeon Jen Gale.
