Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights
The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights actively works toward the acquisition of rights for all nonhuman animals by educating the public and the veterinary profession about a variety of issues concerning nonhuman animal use.
The AVAR (Davis, California 95617) is actively seeking reformation of the way society treats all nonhumans and an increase in environmental awareness, as well.
AVAR operates under the premise that all nonhuman animals have value and interests independent of the values and interests of other animals, including humans. As physicians protect the interests and needs of their patients, so should veterinarians.
In 1981, the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights was founded by Neil C. Wolff, D.V.M. and Nedim C. Buyukmihci, V.M.D. These veterinarians were concerned that the nonhuman animals they were trained to care for, treat, and heal in veterinary medical school were routinely being used and abused by society, sometimes for the most trivial of reasons. They recognized that the veterinary profession, under the banner of 'adequate veterinary care,' often supported practices which were completely contrary to the well-being of the animals. Thus, the AVAR was formed to educate the public and the veterinary profession to secure higher ideals of humanity and policy toward all nonhuman animals.
The AVAR is unique in that it is the only veterinary medical association actively promoting rights for nonhuman animals. In fact, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the largest association of veterinarians in the world, states that it "...cannot endorse the philosophical views and personal values of animal rights advocates when they are incompatible with the responsible use of animals for human purposes..."
The AVAR is diametrically opposed to many of the positions taken by the AVMA regarding using nonhuman animals for human purposes.
