Join us as we talk to people working towards a common goal - to improve animal welfare.
We’ll chat to veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, animal owners, conservationists and others who have an important part to play in care and decision making about the lives of pets, domestic, farm or zoo animals and wildlife.
We’re not afraid to challenge assumptions and question current beliefs.
To keep up to date join our mailing list at https://www.animalwelfareconversation.com/
From Vet to Visionary: Manda Scott on Healing, Hope, and Systemic Change
In this expansive and deeply grounded conversation, we hear from Manda Scott, to explore why personal healing and systemic change must go hand in hand if we want to leave a healthy planet for future generations.
Tracing her journey from veterinary medicine in Scotland and Cambridge to award‑winning writing and spiritual practice, Manda shares her understanding of today’s interconnected poly crisis, the sixth mass extinction, breached planetary boundaries, and why incremental solutions can’t meet the scale of the challenge.
Manda reminds us that the answers already exist—and meaningful change is still possible if we choose to act together.
Biography
Born in Scotland at 318ppm CO2, Manda Scott trained as a veterinary surgeon, but is now an award-winning novelist, host of the Accidental Gods podcast and co-creator of the Thrutopia Masterclass. Best known for the Boudica: Dreaming series, her latest novel, Any Human Power, is a mytho-political Thrutopian thriller that explores the potential for a future we'd be proud to leave as our legacy. She believes that the way forward now is for everyone to craft open-hearted connections with all parts of ourselves, each other and the Web of Life. She lives with her wife in the Shropshire Marches.
Further information
Accidental Gods Podcast https://accidentalgods.life/our-podcast/
Accidental Gods Membership https://accidentalgods.life/join-us/
Thrutopia Masterclass https://thrutopia.life/the-thrutopia-masterclass/
Dreaming Awake https://dreamingawake.co.uk/
Manda books https://mandascott.co.uk/
Resource Page from Any Human Power https://mandascott.co.uk/any-human-power-resources/
Audrey Tang https://rightlivelihood.org/the-change-makers/find-a-laureate/audrey-tang/
Doughnut Economics https://doughnuteconomics.org/
Wellbeing Alliance (there’s a strong hub of this in Scotland) https://weall.org/
Client Earth https://www.clientearth.org/
Stop Ecocide https://www.stopecocide.earth/
Layers for Nature https://lawyers-for-nature.ghost.io/
Biomimicry https://biomimicry.org/inspiration/what-is-biomimicry/
The Work that Reconnects https://workthatreconnects.org/dimensions-of-the-great-turning/
River Dôn Project https://www.theriverdon.org/
Local Currencies https://centerforneweconomics.org/publications/local-currencies-in-the-21st-century-understanding-money-building-local-economies-renewing-community/
6 Mar 2026
Making room for small ethical breeders
With Crufts taking place this weekend, we explore the future of dog breeding. Recent media attention has focused on breeding practices, conformation, the Innate Health Assessment Tool, and the Royal Kennel Club’s new nose‑to‑tail assessment / Breeding For Health Framework.
Mary catches up with Beverley Cuddy, a former podcast guest, to discuss these developments. A key theme of the conversation is the importance of involving breeders in discussions about the future of dog breeding. Beverley recently founded the Union of Dog People, representing those small scale breeders who believe that breeding a dog brings with it responsibility.
As previously discussed on the podcast, puppy farming poses significant risks to animal welfare. Small, ethical breeders can and do play an important role in the fight against puppy farms, providing support and education for new dog owners, and enabling people to bring dogs into their family that are healthy and socialised.
There's a lot to discuss, with social media full of different points of view on the best way forward, from academics, charities, breeders and everyone who has spent their life with dogs. Hopefully, by working together, we can find a solution to the problem of extreme conformation and have many future generations of healthy, happy dogs.
More Information
Welcome to the Union of Good Dog People - Dogs above everything
Breeding for health framework | The Royal Kennel Club
Innate Health Assessment | Promote Healthy Breeding Now
RKC and APGAW Dog Health Action Plan
27 Feb 2026
Assessing Pain, Improving Welfare: Insights from Dr Beatriz Monteiro
In this episode we are joined by Dr Beatriz Monteiro, to discuss in more depth the impact of pain on animal welfare. We consider the differences between acute and chronic pain, how pain impacts on all aspects of animal welfare, the use of validated pain scales such as the Feline Grimace Scale and the importance of evidence based medicine.
We talk a lot about the WSAVA and their resources on pain management, and you can find the links to these at the end of these notes.
We hope you will join The Animal Welfare Conversation.
Biography - Dr. Beatriz Monteiro DVM, PhD, PgDip, ISFMAdvCertFB, Diplomate ACAW
Dr. Monteiro received her veterinary degree from the Unesp-Botucatu followed by two internships at the University of Guelph. She has a PhD in chronic pain from the University of Montreal (UdeM), a Postgraduate Diploma in International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law from the University of Edinburgh, and an Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour from the International Society of Feline Medicine. She is board-certified by the American College of Animal Welfare (ACAW).
Dr. Monteiro has acted as the Chair of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Pain Committee and as a board member of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain (IVAPM) and World Animal Protection Canada. While at UdeM, she was involved in numerous studies related to the Feline Grimace Scale. She has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications, 8 book chapters and has lectured in numerous international conferences. Dr. Monteiro supports the use of science for guiding societal progress while promoting the concepts of One Welfare to improve the lives of animals and people while caring for the planet we all share.
Links and further information
2022 WSAVA Global Pain Management Guidelines: 2022 WSAVA guidelines for the recognition, assessment and treatment of pain - Monteiro - 2023 - Journal of Small Animal Practice - Wiley Online Library
2022 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines: 2022 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats* | Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
WSAVA Certificate in Pain Management: WSAVA Certificate in Pain Management - WSAVA
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