FAQ
This list of frequently asked questions answers some of the most common general and animal welfare education enquiries we receive. If you do not find the answer you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact your closest regional WSPA office.
- Who is the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)?
- What is WSPA’s mission?
- Where are WSPA offices around the world?
- What are the main issues that WSPA works on?
- What is a Member Society?
- Do you have any information to help me with my school project?
- Do you have any resources on …(subject)?
- I/My organization would be interested in becoming an ‘IN AWE’ Partner. How do we go about this?
- I heard about WSPA and educating children about basic animal care, I would love to get a branch going where I live. Please let me know how I could get started?
- I am looking for online university courses regarding animal welfare, animal ethics and environmental enrichment. Can you help?
Who is the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)?
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is the world’s largest network for animal welfare. It brings together over 600 Member Societies and a whole community of individuals around the world who care about animal welfare.
With consultative status at both the United Nations (UN) and the Council of Europe, WSPA is building a united global animal welfare movement to further our vision of a world where animal welfare matters, and animal cruelty ends.
Our ambition is to create a world in which animals are regarded as sentient, and whose needs are understood, regulated and protected by enforced legislation.
Read more about WSPA's history >>
Read more about WSPA's beliefs >>
What is WSPA’s mission?
To unite an informed, global animal welfare movement that helps and protects animals and creates a climate for change, leading to enforced legislation that transforms animals’ lives.
We want people around the world to connect with WSPA to promote compassion to animals, to speak for them and foster understanding of their needs.
Vision:
To become, through our campaigns and projects, the world’s leading global animal welfare organisation for exposing cruelty and the suffering of animals. Through recognition and dialogue with all levels of government worldwide, we seek increased legislation to change the lives of animals forever.
Where are WSPA offices around the world?
WSPA has 13 offices around the world, which can be found in the following countries and regions:
- Africa
- Asia
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Denmark
- Germany
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom (Headquarters)
- United States of America
Contact your nearest WSPA office >>
For regional WSPA Education staff contact details click here >>
What are the main issues that WSPA works on?
Along with our network of Member Societies around the world WSPA works on countless animal welfare issues.
Some of the main areas we are working on are as follows:
- Companion animal
- Commercial exploitation of wildlife
- Disaster relief for animals
- Farm animals
- Education
- Legislation
Learn more about WSPA's work and involvement with the issues listed above >>
What is a Member Society?
A Member Society is an independent animal welfare organisation that is a part of WSPA’s global network of organisations that work together to improve animal welfare.
The benefits to WSPA of working with local groups around the world are that these people provide expert, hands-on knowledge of local cultures, attitudes and animal welfare concerns. WSPA often supports the work of local groups so the result is that local people are telling their own authorities they want change within their own community. This sends out a very positive and powerful message.
The Member Societies benefit from our 25 years’ experience in animal welfare. WSPA can advise groups on how to campaign for change effectively, how to harness the support of local people, and how to lobby the authorities appropriately. We can also provide education materials and training, for example, in animal handling and health care. WSPA can also provide funding where appropriate.
Currently WSPA has over 600 Member Societies in more than 140 countries.
View our Member Societies Network >>
Do you have any information to help me with my school project?
WSPA promotes education programmes working with schools, universities, animal welfare professionals and local communities.
Learn more about WSPA’s education work >>
View our educational online resources >>
Do you have any resources on …(subject)?
Specific educational resources produced by WSPA and other organisations will be listed on the Animal Welfare Education Database (AWED), located on this website. Click here to access the database. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please contact us and we will help to point you in the right direction.
View WSPA’s educational online resources >>
Contact us >>
I/My organization would be interested in becoming an ‘IN AWE’ Partner. How do we go about this?
If you, or your organisation, would be interested in becoming an IN AWE Partner, please contact us >>
Learn more about the IN AWE Partnership >>
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I heard about WSPA and educating children about basic animal care, I would love to get a branch going where I live. Please let me know I could get started?
If you are interested in animal welfare education within your area or region, please contact your nearest WSPA office.
I am looking for online university courses regarding animal welfare, animal ethics and environmental enrichment. Can you help?
Try searching the internet for online teaching courses. Two online animal welfare classes are currently available at Michigan State University, one at the graduate level and one at the undergraduate level. The classes can be taken for credit through the university even if you are not a student already. Visit http://www.msu.edu/~siegford/MSUOnlineWelfare.htm for more information on the course.
If this is not suitable, or you are looking for a full-time or part-time practical qualification in animal welfare or animal management, try searching the internet for universities and colleges that offer these types of courses. Your local library should also have a careers section where you can browse lists of university qualifications. A good way to find out where to start is to contact someone who works in the career you are interested in pursuing, to ask which qualifications would be the most relevant.
