38 Section 2
2.2 Working Animals and Livestock Supporting Livelihoods
The benefits of caring well for animals extend to impoverished areas where
animal welfare improvements can be an integral part of projects improving
human welfare and poverty.
Working animals and livestock play a significant role in rural liveli-
hoods and the economies of developing countries (Herrero et al., 2013).
They help with provision of income and employment, and support daily
life (traction, transport, etc.). They are especially valuable to pastoralist
groups and women, owing to their income generation and contribution to
Clinic sessions are
held in the office
of The Big Issue,
a street newspaper
from an independent
UK-based charity
that helps homeless
people earn an in-
come; this organiza-
tion has supported
ViC in numerous
practical ways over
the past 5 years.
Since its incep-
tion, the ViC clinic
has provided over
1000 consultations
and more than 200
students have volun-
teered their time and
services. The bene-
fits to both clients
and students have
been vast, as shown
regularly in the feedback collected. Animal welfare is the main veterinary pri-
ority, but the project also considers the strong human–animal relationships be-
tween clients and their pets. A parallel research project takes place to characterize
this unique HAB. ViC has served as an example to build up similar services across
the UK over recent years, and has hosted vets and students from across the UK to
share its experiences with them. Homelessness is, unfortunately, prevalent in
modern society and pet ownership among homeless people is common, so ser-
vices like this are necessary to fill a One Welfare gap not yet covered by current
organizational structures.Case Study 8. Continued.