AVC veterinary students shine at animal welfare assessment competition

Six veterinary students from the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) showcased their skills and knowledge at the 2024 Animal Welfare Assessment Contest (AWJAC) in November. Hosted by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the event took place at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls.

Competing against peers from universities across North America, the students, who were split into two teams, brought home three top awards in the veterinary division.

Team 1, composed of Anna Varty (AVC Class of 2027), Ciara Richter (AVC Class of 2028), and Mia Vargas (AVC Class of 2028), earned first place in the team scenario and third place overall. Team 2, featuring Ainsley Monchesky (AVC Class of 2028), Brooklyn Kenny (AVC Class of 2028), and Jocelyn Childers (AVC Class of 2028), earned first place overall. 

The contest involved individual and team assessments of animal welfare scenarios, including penguins in zoos, laboratory Xenopus (African clawed frogs), breeding dogs, and lactating dairy cows on a compost-bedded pack. The students evaluated different scenarios, defended their decisions in oral presentations, and proposed actionable recommendations for improvement.

“This competition was an incredible opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations,” said Kenny.

“It was amazing to connect with professionals and like-minded peers who are passionate about animal welfare,” added Childers.

The students’ success was supported by generous funding from the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre, the AVMA, and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. Special thanks were extended to their coach, Dr. Katy Proudfoot, and third-year students Catherine LeBlond, Gabrielle Doiron, Tsukasa Iwamoto, Madison King, Abigail Penney-Wiseman, and Sinead Riordon for their invaluable guidance during preparations.