VWB hosts webinar about what's next for dogs following rabies ban
Skip to Main Content

Vets & animal welfare experts discuss Canadian decision to ban adoptable dogs from countries with high incidences of rabies

Posted Sep 20th, 2022 in Media Releases, News

OTTAWA, ON (September 20, 2022) – In response to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s decision to ban the importation of dogs from other countries at high-risk for rabies, including dogs that could otherwise be available for adoption or purchase, Veterinarians Without Borders (VWB) is hosting a free virtual roundtable discussion to explore what comes next for international animal rescues. This ban will come into effect on Wednesday, Sept. 28, which is World Rabies Day and focused on eradicating dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030.  
 
“VWB is committed to our international partnerships, to make sure they are able to pivot towards spay/neuter projects and vaccination programs,” said Charmaine Brett, executive director of VWB.  “The way forward is to eradicate rabies internationally, so there is no need for bans like this.” 
 
Webinar speakers will include animal and policy experts, Michelle Tuma DVM, (Veterinarians without Borders / Vétérinaires sans frontières – Canada (VWB/VSF), Gregg Tully (Save the Dogs and Other Animals), Kathy Duncan (Humane Canada), and Nina Lozinska from Happy Paw in Ukraine. VWB is currently working on-the-ground with partners in countries such as Ukraine, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, South Sudan, Laos, and Vietnam, which will experience bans on dog importation following this decision.  
 
Details as follows
 
WEBINAR: DOG IMPORT BAN – WHAT’S NEXT FOR CANADA AND THE COUNTRIES FACING A BAN ON EXPORTS? 
 
When: Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. ET 
Where: Online; register here
 
Media Contact  

Charmaine Brett  
Executive Director  
E: Charmaine@vetswithoutborders.ca  
C: +1-613-880-1655  
 
About Veterinarians Without Borders 


Using a One Health approach, Veterinarians Without Borders (VWB) works for, and with, communities in need to foster the health of animals, people and the environments that sustain us. VWB works in Africa and Asia to improve the living conditions of the most disadvantaged rural populations through veterinary and agricultural services, sustainable animal production, training, value chain development and sustainable natural resource management. Additionally, we support remote Northern Canadian communities to improve animal health through temporary spay and neuter clinics, reduce the spread of rabies, and work to create the conditions for long-term, community-led sustainable animal health services. 
 
Learn more at vetswithoutborders.ca 
 
-30- 

Stories From Around The World

Upcoming World Rabies Day Webinar: You, Me, and Community - Turning Action Into Impact

Upcoming World Rabies Day Webinar: You, Me, and Community - Turning Action Into Impact

Posted Sep 17th, 2025

Register now for our upcoming World Rabies Day webinar which explores how One Health approaches are driving change, shares practical insights from the frontlines of rabies prevention, and highlights how local efforts are contributing to the global goal of ending human rabies deaths by 2030.

Read more

VETS Volunteer Voices: From Gender Analysis to Community Action in Ghana

VETS Volunteer Voices: From Gender Analysis to Community Action in Ghana

Posted Sep 14th, 2025

#VETSVolunteerVoices brings you stories of our passionate volunteers from the field. Meet Dayo Olaniyan, a Gender Advisor who spent three months in Ghana (May–August 2025) with our local partner, GAPNET, strengthening gender equity in livestock production and empowering rural communities.

Read more

Ask an Expert:

Ask an Expert: "Can One Health Help Build a Healthier Future for Canada and Beyond?" with Dr. Richard Rusk

Posted Sep 8th, 2025

In this edition of Ask an Expert, we connected with Dr. Richard Rusk, a public health physician and clinician who grew up in South Africa and is now based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. With expertise in the epidemiology of infectious and vector-borne diseases, he brings both human and animal clinical experience, along with a systems-level perspective, to addressing challenges facing communities in Canada and around the world.

Read more

  • My voluntary assignments in Ghana for the past three years have dramatically improved animal production in terms of reducing mortality and increasing the size of the herd/flock.
    - Joseph Ansong-Danquah

Become A Part Of The Big Picture

By supporting Veterinarians Without Borders through donations or volunteering, you become part of the Big Picture solution. 

Volunteer  Donate  

+1(343) 633-0272 Contact