RCVS calls on professions to support recruitment of animal owners and keepers for new Public Advisory Group

We are calling upon members of the veterinary professions to help us recruit around 30 animal owners and keepers for a new Public Advisory Group (PAG), which will help inform and guide our policies.

The group, which we will initially set up as a pilot for a 12-month period, will support our activities in upholding and advancing the educational, ethical and clinical standards of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, in the interests of animal health and welfare and public health. We work in the public interest and the aim of the PAG will be to help ensure we meet this objective.

Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO, said: “As the UK veterinary regulator, our purpose is to uphold animal health and welfare and public health. However, it is difficult for us to do this alone. Animal owners and keepers must also be a part of the conversation.

“Through the PAG, we hope to gain greater insight into the experiences and opinions of animal owners and keepers to determine how we can ensure that the veterinary professions continue to meet the needs of clients and animals alike, both now and in the future.

“When working towards any joint aim, communication is always key. We hope that through this group, we can also improve the ways in which we work and communicate with veterinary service users.

“We are looking for a pool of around 30 individuals, including, but not limited to, owners and keepers of companion animals, and equine and production animals, to join our group. We are asking veterinary professionals to help us recruit animal owners and keepers from all walks of life, by kindly sharing information about this initiative with anyone they feel would be an appropriate, enthusiastic and engaged member of the Group.”

For more information on the Public Advisory Group, including terms of reference and how to apply, please visit www.rcvs.org.uk/pag or email Lisa Moffatt on [email protected].

The deadline for applications is 16 June 2023.  

Please note: this article was amended on 1 June 2023 in light of the deadline for applications to the PAG being extended.