Working groups
Projects initiated by the FECAVA Council are implemented by Working Groups (WG)
To realise its mission and vision, FECAVA is active through Council Meetings and WorkingGroups in the main areas of Continuing Education, including the annual European Congress, European Symposia and Continuing Education Courses and the FECAVA Journal: EJCAP (European Journal of Companion Animal Practice). The development of European Standards in various fields where companion animal veterinary practitioners are active. The outputs are policy statements and guidelines.
Working Group on Continuing Education (CE)
Eastern Europe CE
CE Accreditation
EJCAP-Production
Working Group on One Health:
Hygiene and the Use of Antimicrobials in Veterinary Practice
The Blue dog project
Socio-economic Value of Companion Animals
Working Group on Animal Health & Wellfare:
Animal Wellfare
Companion Animal Identification
Companion Animal infectious diseases
Prescribing and Dispensing of veterinary drugs
European standards for veterinary clinics and centres
Cooperation of european animal insurance
Working Group on Animal Assisted Facilities (AAF)
FECAVA recognizes that the human animal bond is important to human and community health.
The proven positive impact of animals on people’s lives has led to their integration into specialized intervention methods for the benefit of human health. These Animal Facilitated Activities take place in different scientific and interdisciplinary fields including genetics, biology, developmental psychology, nursing and psychoanalysis. In medical and veterinary science, they are divided into two groups: a) animal assisted therapy (AAT) and b) animal assisted activities.
The involvement of veterinarians in AAT programs is critical. They serve public and animal health as interdisciplinary experts in zoonotic disease and animal welfare. They can provide answers to fundamental questions concerning animal husbandry and behaviour.
The AAF-WG produced a Policy Statement on the role of veterinarians in AAT programs. Their role is to liaise and network with AAF stakeholders. Acknowledging this, the 2012 FECAVA Symposium is titled ‘’Animal assisted facilities: companionship works its magic’’.
Members of the AAF-WG: Katerina Loukaki, Stein Dahl, Oili Gylden, Sylvia Leugner, Katia Di Nicolo
The review of FECAVA Eurocongress Protocols led to Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) comprehensive guidelines for organizing the FECAVA Eurocongresses reviewed at regular intervals to keep them current and guarantee high standard CE for the companion animal veterinary community.
The working group is chaired by Honorary FECAVA Secretary Wolfgang Dohne (BSAVA) and further working group members are Hanne Valentin Werner (DSAVA), Jean-Francois Rousselot (AFVAC), Peter Fahrenkrug (DGK-DVG), FECAVA President Simon Orr (BSAVA) and Erkut Goren (TSAVA).
Any inquiries can be directed to the chairman at vet@virginvet.co.uk.
Continuing Education in Eastern Europe
FECAVA provides support to member associations in Eastern Europe to assist with C.E events. These events have been very successful and many have attracted collaboration and participation from neighbouring countries. As time progresses some countries no longer require assistance and so funds are redirected as appropriate
Continuing Education (CE) Accrditation
A working group has been established to explore the development of accredited modular C.E. that is achievable by practitioners. FECAVA has been liaising with the other veterinary organisations and has reached agreement on a multi-organisation working group, including FECAVA, FVE (UEVP), EAEVE, Statutory Bodies and EBVS, to bring this concept forward.
EJCAP-Production Sub-Committee
As a standing commitee, this working group is busy developing the official journal of FECAVA. Coordination and editing, scientific paper assessment by the scientific board and the scientific editor and the regular revision of the conditions for publishing are the main activities.
This working group established a common European training for veterinary nurses. The outcome of this exemplary para-CA- veterinarian standardization project can be found under www.acovene.org. In order to promote the education and training of veterinary nurses, lectures are held specifically for veterinary nurses at FECAVA congresses and have a strong appeal.
One Health
Hygiene and the Use of Antimicrobials in Veterinary Practice
The FECAVA Working Group on Hygiene and the Use of Antimicrobials in Veterinary Practice was initiated in 2007 by SSAVA. The group work to increase veterinary awareness in hygiene and responsible use of antimicrobials. The group connects to different experts in different fields and also organizations working towards the same aim. The initial group consisted of Dr.Peter Murphy, VICAS (Ireland), Dr.Katerina Loukaki, HVMS (Greece) Didier Carlotti, AFVAC (France) and Alexandra Vilén, SSAVA (Sweden) as chairwoman. The group quickly got the much welcome addition of Prof. David Lloyd and PhD student Ana Mateus both from RVC, UK. In 2010 Ulrika Grönlund-Andersson from the National Swedish Institute (SVA) joined us and in 2011 the group has received additional members with Dr Jean-Francois Rousselot, AFVAC (France) and Dr. Alexandre Bongartz SAVAB – Wallonia (Belgium)
In 2010 the group published an illustrative poster with the different steps to achieve correct hygiene measurements in veterinary practice. The aim is now to produce 3-4 posters on responsible use of antimicrobials until the end of 2013
Contact details:
Alexandra Vilén alexandra@vilen.se
Peter Murphy drpamurphy@eircom.net 
Katerina Loukaki loukaki1@otenet.gr
David Lloyd david-lloyd@ntlworld.com
Didier Carlotti DNCVETDERM@aol.com
Ana Mateus ana_mateus76@yahoo.com.br
Jean-Francois Rousselot jfrousselot@wanadoo.fr
Ulrika Grönlund –Andersson Ulrika.gronlund-andersson@sva.se
Alexandre Bongartz alexandrebongartz@yahoo.fr
The global approach of “One Health” was also the background of the EJCAP special issue on zoonosis published online 2009.
The Blue dog project
In 2006 FECAVA was involved in the development of the dog cohabitation project “The Blue Dog”. The reason for this interdisciplinary project was the fact that 75% of the dog bite accidents happen at home with young children between 3 and 6 years with the family dog. It is scientifically proven that the interactive computer game has a positive influence on the childs interactions with the dog.
Socio-economic Value of Companion Animals
This working group is expanding to include a sub-committee on Animal Assisted Therapy and Animal Assisted Activities and will collate information and explore how the veterinary profession may work with and assist groups providing such services. It is important to collate evidence and promote the value of companion animals both in economic and social terms. The document on the socio-economic value of companion animal is one of the outcomes of the working group. The effects of such efforts are not seen immediately but are a long term investment in the development and promotion of the relevance of companion animal welfare and healthcare in Europe. The working group worked out the policy statement on the role of veterinarians in AAT programms. Together with FVE it is cooperating with IAHAIO
Animal Health
Animal Welfare
A FECAVA Working Group together with WSPA worked out guidelines for stray animals in Europe, the keeping of wild animals and exotic animals as pets, elaborated recommendations on the cropping of ears and tails and on dangerous dogs, where the authors especially underlined that breed-specific legislation is not useful, and that the emphasis has to be placed on increasing the training of animals and animal owners. Through FVE, www.carodog.eu was develpoed on responsible ownership.
Companion Animal Identification
The aim of this working group was to report on the different systems and experiences with microchips and work out a standardized european approach. The Council agreed on the policy statement on identification of companion animal identification by microchipping
The outcome of the Working Group to create maps for expansion of infectious diseases in Europe has been published in EJCAP 4 (1), 16-19, (1994).
Regarding the prescribing and dispensing of veterinary drugs in the individual EU Member Nations, UEVP and FVE are very committed and FECAVA exchange information on this important political issue. Maintaining availability of medicines for use in companion animal practice in Europe is an ongoing challenge essential to the practice of high quality veterinary care. This is not only an issue for smaller member states but in the future will remain an important issue for larger member countries where continued availability of products must be protected. Medicines legislation is under review by the European Commission and FECAVA plays an active role in the FVE Medicines Working Group where the particular challenges both present and future are kept on the agenda.
The working group on the elaboration of standards for veterinary clinics and centres in Europe proposed that at the moment no uniform standards for the whole of Europe are possible. FVE took over the subject to work on practice standards that should apply across Europe, without coming into conflict with national jurisdictions and regulations. FECAVA is active in collating information to support FVE.
The Working group on cooperation of animal insurance in Europe continues watching the development within Europe.
Website
In Bologna in June 1998 FECAVA decided to set up a website as a purely informational site. Due to the development of the new media, FECAVA decided to develop a more interactive website including the EJCAP online. It will permit all members to be well informed about the latest news in the European companion animal veterinary world, allowing exchanges on specific topics in blogs and so strenghten the community of companion animal veterinarians all over Europe.
Branding
This working group is working out the general approach on representing FECAVA. In the past guidelines were produced for the FECAVA stand, flyers and videos.
A dedicated working group has designed and is overseeing the distribution of a membership card for all FECAVA members. The group is chaired by Honorary FECAVA Secretary Wolfgang Dohne and further members are Denis Novak (SASAP), Linda Jakusenoka (LSAPS) and Zbigniew Blimke (PSAVA).
All communication with the working group should initially be directed to the chairman at vet@virginvet.co.uk.
The Constitution Review Working Group revises regulary the constitution to ensure it meets the actual needs.
The Financial Advisory Sub-committee is a standing committee revising the finances and advising the Council on financial matters.