Population Medicine Prof. Derek Haley, centre, with OVC team members (from left) Madeleine Cosentino, Catherine Nicoll, Nicole Zaranek and Denise Yates,
OVC students captured the top three spots out of 31 competitors in the individual assessment category at the 12th annual Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Contest, held at the U of G Nov. 17-18.
With 80 students representing seven universities from across North America and the Caribbean participating, it was the first time the event was held in Canada.
OVC 2016 classmates Denise Yates, Catherine Nicoll and Madeleine Cosentino were the top three in the individual contest, while OVC placed third in the team assessment exercise.
Introduced over a decade ago at the Michigan State University, the contest is designed as an educational tool for enhancing understanding and awareness of welfare
issues affecting animals used for human purposes in agriculture and research and for companionship.
The contest teaches ethical reasoning, encourages objective assessment of animal welfare on the basis of scientific theory and data, promotes critical thinking, and improves communication skills. Species covered in this year’s contest included companion animals in veterinary clinics, laying hens, veal calves, and laboratory mice.
For more about the competition, see the website and the recent story in At Guelph.