The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) is proud to announce Dr. Bao Lei as the recipient of the 2024 Companion Animal Welfare Award. This award recognizes Dr. Bao’s exceptional contributions to advancing animal welfare in China and his long-standing commitment to veterinary education and practice.
Dr. Bao Lei’s journey in veterinary medicine is marked by groundbreaking achievements and a persistent advocacy for animal welfare. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Veterinary Medicine from Xinjiang Agricultural University and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Veterinary Medicine from Southwest University, Dr. Bao has consistently worked to leverage his academic background throughout his work to advance veterinary practice in China.
In the early stages of his career, when the concept of animal welfare was still nascent in China, Dr. Bao was a trailblazer. He proposed and propagated the idea of animal welfare across the veterinary industry, significantly influencing hospital diagnostic and treatment standards to minimize animal suffering. His innovative approach included optimizing processes and improving anesthetic and analgesic techniques, setting a new benchmark in veterinary practice.
Dr. Bao’s professional trajectory includes notable roles such as the Executive Director of Chengdu Harmonious Animal Hospital, where he played a key role in improving clinical practices and raising awareness of the need to incorporate animal welfare principles. Later, as the head of the technical department of the pharmaceutical company Zoetis China, he championed animal welfare through various initiatives. Wendy Leadbeater, RVN and Vet Nurse Education Manager at MARS Veterinary Health, recalls, “In 2017, Dr. Bao invited me to lecture on the national Anesthesia and Pain Management Tour across China. His steadfast advocacy for animal welfare was evident in every city, engaging effectively with his veterinary peers. I have deep respect for his integrity, sincerity, and devotion to practicing and promoting animal welfare.”
Dr. Bao’s influence extends beyond clinical settings into the corporate realm. He persuaded pharmaceutical companies to adopt animal welfare as a core development focus, balancing commercial success with genuine advances in animal care. Dr. Yu Xiaoxiao, a Zoetis Medical Consultant, highlights, “Dr. Bao has skillfully used corporate market resources to find the optimal balance between commercial achievements and real improvements in animal welfare. His persistence has influenced many people, including myself.”
His dedication to education is equally commendable. Dr. Bao has been pivotal in securing funding for various educational initiatives. In 2018, he played a key role in obtaining a substantial donation to inaugurate the Veterinary Welfare Training Program at Animals Asia Foundation (AAF). Dr. Mandala Hunter-Ishikawa, Senior Veterinary Trainer at AAF remarks, “His leadership in securing a substantial donation empowered Animals Asia to consistently provide continuing education centered on veterinary welfare and pain management in China. Dr. Bao exemplifies generosity and compassion, demonstrating a genuine concern for animal welfare in China.”
Dr. Bao’s commitment to animal welfare is further exemplified by his international fundraising efforts and collaboration with AAF to introduce high-quality training courses aimed at raising animal welfare awareness among veterinary teams. His efforts have ensured that veterinarians across China are well versed in the latest welfare practices, elevating the standards of care overall.
About receiving the WSAVA Award, Dr Bao shared that, “I am deeply honored to receive the WSAVA Companion Animal Welfare Award which I believe is a recognition of the collective efforts of all those who committed to advancing animal welfare in China. I hope that this will help to shine a spotlight on the importance of compassionate veterinary care and inspire further progress in the standards of small animal welfare.”
Dr. Ellen van Nierop, President of WSAVA, comments, “Dr. Bao Lei’s dedication to animal welfare and his contributions to veterinary education are truly inspiring. His work has not only transformed the veterinary field in China but has also set a global example. We are honored to present him with the WSAVA 2024 Companion Animal Welfare Award.”
