Animal Welfare Conversations

Professor Andrew Knight

Welcome to the next episode of the Animal Welfare Conversation. And this week we caught up with Prof Andrew Knight, animal welfare advocate, researcher and campaigner. In this episode we about Andrew’s journey of campaigning for animal welfare. We hear about the impact of livestock farming on climate change, the future of vegan diets and how this relates to animal welfare. We also consider how the veterinary profession can play a pivotal role in advocating for systemic change beyond the clinic.

Andrew established and directed the Centre for Animal Welfare at the University of Winchester; is a Principal Fellow of Advance HE; EBVS European and RCVS Veterinary Specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law; American & New Zealand Veterinary Specialist in Animal Welfare and a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.  

In 2019 Andrew was awarded  the Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics Shomer Award and also received the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association Humane Achievement Award

Andrew has published a wide range of academic papers and books on animal welfare including The Costs and Benefits of Animal Experiments and co-edited the Routledge Handbook of Animal Welfare.

Further Information

Sites

https://www.andrewknight.info

https://sustainablepetfood.info

https://humanelearning.info

https://animalexperiments.info

socials

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-knight-409b7434/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100046421604769

https://www.youtube.com/c/andrewknight

Key infographics

Knight A (2023) The relative benefits for environmental sustainability of vegan diets for dogs, cats and people. PLoS ONE 18(10): e0291791. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291791 

Knight A, Bauer A, Brown H (2023) Vegan versus meat-based cat food: Guardian-reported health outcomes in 1,369 cats, after controlling for feline demographic factors. PLoS ONE 18(9): e0284132. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284132 

Vegan dog health

Other Information:

http://aknight.info/articles/pet-food 

And finally.........

Please follow us on social media, and if you haven’t yet nominated you Animal Welfare Hero, please take time to nominate them. Find out more here. Alex Fraser Medal for Animal Welfare | Girling & Fraser Ltd  Closing date is 30th September.

What makes a good life? Part 2

In this episode of the Animal Welfare Conversation, we continue the conversation with Dr Dan O’Neill of the RVC. Dan is well known in the veterinary profession for his work with VetCompass and animal welfare. Dan is a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and has received many awards in recent years from BSAVA, Kennel Club Charitable Trust, and was awarded the RCVS Impact Award in 2025.

In this 2 part podcast episode we examine an animal’s capacity for a good life and the opportunities they get to fulfil that. In this eye-opening episode, Dr. O'Neill challenges traditional veterinary approaches, arguing that good animal welfare extends far beyond the absence of disease. He presents a groundbreaking framework based on two key elements: an animal's capacity for a good life and their opportunity to fulfil that capacity. Through compelling examples, including the concerning rise of brachycephalic breeds in the UK we see how human choices can significantly impact animals' ability to live naturally and happily.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr Dan O’Neill , Associate Professor Companion Animal Epidemiology, RVC

Following 22 years in general veterinary practice, Dan moved to academia to gain a PhD and now co-leads the RVC VetCompass™ Programme.

With over 170 papers, he also co-authored the books ‘Breed Predispositions to Disease in Dogs and Cats’ and ‘Health and Welfare of Brachycephalic (Flat-faced) Companion Animals’.

He is a founding member of the UK Brachycephalic Working Group, the UK Legal Advisory Group on Extreme Conformation in Dogs and the International Collaborative on Extreme Conformation in Dogs.

Dan was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2018, the BSAVA Blaine Award for Advancement of Small Animal Science in 2019, the International Canine Health Award from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust in 2021, the UK All Party Parliamentary Group ‘Phillippa Robinson Dog Welfare Award’ in 2024 and the RCVS Impact Award in 2025. Dan is currently developing his Innate Health Concept as an application for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) that aims to shift the UK dog demographic progressively away from extreme conformation over the coming decade. 

What makes a good life? Part 1

In this episode of the Animal Welfare Conversation, we meet Dr Dan O’Neill of the RVC. Dan is well known in the veterinary profession for his work with VetCompass and animal welfare. Dan is a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and has received many awards in recent years from BSAVA, Kennel Club Charitable Trust, and was awarded the RCVS Impact Award in 2025.

In this 2 part podcast episode we examine an animal’s capacity for a good life and the opportunities they get to fulfil that. In this eye-opening episode, Dr. O'Neill challenges traditional veterinary approaches, arguing that good animal welfare extends far beyond the absence of disease. He presents a groundbreaking framework based on two key elements: an animal's capacity for a good life and their opportunity to fulfil that capacity. Through compelling examples, including the concerning rise of brachycephalic breeds in the UK we see how human choices can significantly impact animals' ability to live naturally and happily.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr Dan O’Neill , Associate Professor Companion Animal Epidemiology, RVC

Following 22 years in general veterinary practice, Dan moved to academia to gain a PhD and now co-leads the RVC VetCompass™ Programme.

With over 170 papers, he also co-authored the books ‘Breed Predispositions to Disease in Dogs and Cats’ and ‘Health and Welfare of Brachycephalic (Flat-faced) Companion Animals’.

He is a founding member of the UK Brachycephalic Working Group, the UK Legal Advisory Group on Extreme Conformation in Dogs and the International Collaborative on Extreme Conformation in Dogs.

Dan was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2018, the BSAVA Blaine Award for Advancement of Small Animal Science in 2019, the International Canine Health Award from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust in 2021, the UK All Party Parliamentary Group ‘Phillippa Robinson Dog Welfare Award’ in 2024 and the RCVS Impact Award in 2025. Dan is currently developing his Innate Health Concept as an application for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) that aims to shift the UK dog demographic progressively away from extreme conformation over the coming decade. 

Welcome back! 

In this episode we catch up with Dr Toby Trimble, the founder of Trimble Group, a film production company, reinventing education for animal health. Listeners to the podcast will know that education features a lot in conversations about animal welfare, so, in this episode we get the chance to look at this in more detail and discover just why education is so important. 

You can find out more about Toby's work at Trimble Group or find Toby on LinkedIn 

Biography

Toby is an RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia and the founder of Trimble Group, a film production company reinventing education for animal health, making it less like PowerPoint and more like Netflix. He focuses on making education engaging, visual, and memorable. With his team, Toby has created over one thousand CPD videos and live broadcasts in the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia.

After a slightly longer break than we had anticipated, I'm really happy to let everyone know that we're back!

With so much happening in the world of animal welfare it's difficult to know where to start, but we're going to try. 

Join Mary this week for a short introduction to the new series.  

Our first full episode of this new series goes live on 16th May, when we catch up with Dr Toby Trimble to find out more about the importance of education in relation to animal welfare. More information about that episode to follow in a few days. 

It’s the end of the year, so we took the chance to review the podcast. I still can’t believe that we’ve being doing this for a year now and had the chance to talk to so many people, about the great work they’re doing in relation to animal welfare.

It would be great, if you get a chance to go through the back catalogue and listen to some of the older episodes, but we wanted to highlight a few different things.

You can find out more about some of our guests at:

Dogs Rehoming & Dog Rescue Charity | Dogs Trust

Home | Humanimal Trust | One Medicine for Humans and Animals

Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | SSPCA

USPCA | Protecting All Animals

The Leading UK Dog Magazine - Dogs Today Magazine

Saving Wildcats | Scottish wildcat conservation and recovery | Saving Wildcats

Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance – Providing information and education to veterinary professionals in the field of osteoarthritis

All-party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group

University of Glasgow - Postgraduate study - Taught degree programmes A‑Z - Advanced Practice in Veterinary Nursing

Vet Sustain

BVA policy - Animal welfare strategy

Books by our guests:

One Welfare in Practice: The Role of the Veterinarian - 1st Edition –

Dr Matt Morgan

Through A Vet’s Eyes by Dr Sean Wensley | The home of non-fiction publishing

Thank you to everyone for taking part in the podcast, and for listening - and we're looking forward to more conversations in 2025. 

Welcome to the next episode of The Animal Welfare Conversation. This week we are joined by Prof Simon Girling. Simon has worked with zoological collections for the past 15 years, and has been involved with many different reintroduction programmes in Scotland and across the UK. In this episode we find out what it takes to successfully reintroduce a species.

The Scottish Beavers Reinforcement Project | BIAZA

Scottish Beavers | Beaver reintroduction | Scottish Wildlife Trust

Saving Wildcats | Scottish wildcat conservation and recovery | Saving Wildcats

Cairngorms Connect | News Item

Prof Simon Girling

Simon worked in general practice and government before focussing on zoological medicine. He was awarded the RCVS Certificate in Zoological Medicine in 1999 and the Diploma in Zoological Medicine (Avian) in 2002 and RCVS Specialist status in 2003 being the first vet in the country to obtain the avian specialism.

In 2012 he became the first vet in the UK to be awarded European Veterinary Specialist in Zoo Health Management and was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2016 for Meritorious Contributions to Practice

Simon is a past president of the British Veterinary Zoological Society and the European College of Zoological Medicine and set up the first UK veterinary residency training position in 2013 that leads to EU recognition as a veterinary specialist in Zoo Health Management. He currently advises the UK and Devolved Governments on animal welfare, both captive and wild through his work on a number of committees including DEFRA's Zoo Experts Committee (which he has chaired since 2018), DEFRA's Animal Welfare Committee and the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission.

​​Simon recently completed a PhD focussing on the reintroduction of the Eurasian Beaver to the UK and has worked on many different reintroduction programmes including water voles, wildcats and pine hover flies.

He lectures widely in the UK and Europe on many different aspects of zoological medicine, both to vets and veterinary nurses and has written widely on this subject, including the core text for veterinary nurses on exotics - 'Veterinary Nursing of Exotic Pets' now in its 2nd edition (3rd edition out in April 2025). 

In this episode we were lucky enough to catch up, earlier this year, with Mike Flynn MBE, Chief Superintendent of the Scottish SPCA, and we caught up just before he retired, to find out more about his 37-year career protecting animals both across Scotland and further afield. We consider the achievements of this career and challenges of working in animal welfare, including organising the largest dog-fighting capture in Europe, in 1991, that resulted in 31 arrests and convictions.

We highlight the work of the Scottish SPCA, and how they work within current legislation. 

We look at the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act of 2006, which granted Scottish SPCA inspectors statutory powers, and we also look at more recent achievements in relation to animal welfare, including a ban on snaring, which has been effective in Scotland from November 2024.

Mike advocates for better enforcement of animal welfare laws, including a national register for animal abusers and stronger penalties. And on a lighter note, we also share memorable cases, such as transporting a crocodile to Spain and rescuing an ostrich in Leith Walk, Edinburgh.

On thing that we hope everyone takes away from this conversation is the urgent need for Government to update the Veterinary Surgeons Act of 1966 - a lot has changed over the last 58 years and this really is something that needs to be considered. 

We hope you will join the animal welfare conversation.

Links for further information:

Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | SSPCA

SSPCA 2024 Winter Appeal TV advert

Home - Safeguarding People And Animals - The Links Group

Animal Welfare Act 2006

Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006

Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966

Biography: Mike Flynn MBE

Mike recently retired as Chief Superintendent of the Scottish SPCA, having started working for them in 1987. Mike set up the Scottish SPCA undercover unit, tackling areas of cruelty including organised dog fighting, badger baiting and puppy farming, and also wrote the first Inspectors’ Instruction manual approved by the Crown Office.

Within the Scottish SPCA Mike was responsible for all uniformed staff of the society; all Parliamentary issues relating to animal welfare for both devolved and reserved issues; and dealing with all animal welfare related Government consultations, including the provision of oral evidence to both Scottish and Westminster Committees. He has assisted in the implementation of animal welfare legislation around the world including Jersey, North and Southern Ireland, Canada and Catalonia.

Mike is a founder member of the original Links Group (exploring the link between animal and human abuse), is an independent external animal welfare advisor and was awarded an MBE in the Queens 80th birthday honours list for services to animal welfare in Scotland. He is an Honorary associate of the BVA (British Veterinary Association) and RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) and advises Scottish Government through membership of the Scottish Government’s Animal Welfare Commission.

Trigger warning

This is part 2 of an episode that we recorded with Dr Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust. This extra episode focusses on domestic abuse, and how the work of the Dogs Trust and The Links Group supports people, and provides foster homes for the dogs of people who find themselves affected by domestic abuse. 

16 days of activism against gender based violence takes place from 25th November until 10th December - you can find out more about this here. 

If you are interested in supporting Dogs Trust as a foster carer then you can find out more here. 

Find out more about:

Freedom Project

The Links Group

In this episode we catch up with Dr Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust, to find out more about their work. Dogs Trust is the largest dog welfare organisation in the UK, rehoming 14,000 dogs a year and many of you will be familiar with their work.  Alongside their rehoming work, they work across public affairs, outreach, and dog behaviour. A current focus for them is  the push for stronger legislation to address puppy smuggling, a topic which we find out more about, as well as discussing the current challenges of dangerous dogs legislation. But their work doesn’t just focus on dogs – a large part of their work is about people.

And so we decided to split this interview into 2 parts, with part 1 focussing on Dogs Trust, and part of 2 focussing on their work around domestic abuse, through key projects like Freedom for domestic abuse survivors, and Paula’s work with The Links Group.

25th November to 10th December marks 16 days of activism against gender based violence; and it will be no surprise there is a spike in domestic abuse incidents around Christmas. The work of the Freedom project and The Links Group is important all year, but particularly around Christmas, and so we wanted to highlight this.

So, there will be another special episode of the podcast released on Monday.

Further information

Dogs Rehoming & Dog Rescue Charity | Dogs Trust

The Links Group

Freedom (fostering for dogs belonging to people fleeing domestic abuse)

Puppy Smuggling – Westminster - recent news

Biography

Paula Boyden graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London in 1992. She spent 11 years in general practice, before moving into a technical role in industry in 2003. Paula joined Dogs Trust in 2010, where she is now Veterinary Director. Her responsibilities include oversight of Dogs Trust’s veterinary matters, outreach and public affairs work.  

Paula has a particular interest in the link between abuse of animals and abuse of people and is current Chair of the Links Group. She also chairs the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG), is vice chair of the Canine and Feline Sector Group, sits on the RSPCA’s Prosecutions Oversight Panel and is a member of the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission. Paula is a founder member of the Association of Charity Vets.  

In 2017, Paula received BSAVA’s J A Wight Memorial Award for her contribution to the welfare of companion animals, and in 2023 the WSAVA’s Global One Health Award.