FECAVA Newsletter – February 2022
These are difficult times.
We have so many posters produced by our working groups ready for launch and numerous other projects underway.
However the tragic events unfolding over the last 10 days have brought a sudden jolt. Our colleagues in Ukraine have been issuing heartfelt pleas for assistance for refugees and their animals. We are responding in the humanitarian manner you would expect us to, but this will delay our usual work.
FECAVA is not a political body. Our Board met in Genk, Belgium this week and affirmed we are completely focused on the relief effort for Ukraine. Over the first week, we have met our Ukrainian colleagues twice by Zoom, joined FVE by Zoom, linked up veterinarians and help organisations, liaised with our colleagues in our National Member Organisations and most importantly, collated all our information into our brand new joint /FECAVA/FVE/WVA website: Vets for Ukraine. It will be updated every day as we become aware of new initiatives. Please share this widely.
We have further announcements ahead, including allocating significant FECAVA funds for relief work. We realise the refugee crisis is only beginning: there may be many more millions leaving Ukraine needing hospitality in Europe. We put a call out to all individual veterinarians to stand by ready to help: Contact your national organisations to put your names forward, offer medical supplies, petfood, your time, and if possible, accommodation and work. Follow the links on the new website for actions in your own country, liaise with other aid organisations and your Authorities, and reach your FECAVA member organisation and their representatives.
FECAVA would like to thank those Associations and companies who have offered huge benefits for Ukranians and their pets already – you know who you are. A few words of caution: Verify where you make your donations and restrain yourselves from using veterinary channels for political comments. We remain as humanitarians, working together to make the world a better place for people and animals. This is our time to stand up and be counted.
Dr Danny Holmes
FECAVA Vice-President