Guardians of the Voiceless

The principles and teachings of Islam greatly emphasize kindness, compassion, and responsibility towards animals. These values form the ethical foundation of veterinary care. In essence, a veterinarian in Islam is not merely a healer of animals, but a guardian of one of Allah’s most delicate and beautiful creations. They care for creatures who cannot speak for themselves, offering a unique blend of compassion, science, and service. Veterinarians hold a sacred role - not only safeguarding animal welfare but also contributing to human health and environmental safety. Through this noble profession, they serve as stewards of a divine duty, chosen and honored among the vast expanse of humanity.

Every veterinarian begins their journey by taking the Veterinarian’s Oath, a solemn pledge that underscores their commitment to using their knowledge and skills for the betterment of society. It binds them to a ‘lifelong’ obligation to uphold animal health, welfare, and continuous professional development. World Veterinary Day (WVD) is celebrated annually on the last Saturday of April. It serves as an important reminder of the vital contributions made by veterinarians and the broader veterinary community. The 2025 theme, announced by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) - “Animal Health Takes a Team”- perfectly encapsulates the collaborative nature of modern veterinary practice.

The Animal Health Team, usually led by a veterinarian, includes a wide array of professionals: veterinary nurses, technicians, assistants, practice managers, veterinary laboratory technicians, livestock assistants, poultry assistants, farm supervisors, animal physiotherapists, dentists, farriers, pet trainers, and support staff. This teamwork extends across diverse sectors -from food animal farms and wildlife sanctuaries to research laboratories, veterinary hospitals, and pet care industries. Every member plays an essential role in maintaining the health of animals and, by extension, that of humans.

In India, becoming a veterinarian requires completing a rigorous five-and-a-half-year degree programme: Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry (BVSc & AH). Unlike Western countries where Veterinary and Animal Husbandry (Livestock management, breeding and production) Sciences are taught separately, this comprehensive program in India integrates both aspects.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the need for veterinary services is particularly pressing. As per the 20th Livestock Census (2019), there are over 8.32 million livestock animals and 7.37 million poultry in the region. Post Covid-19, surge in the pet (cats, dogs and love birds) population is also evident in all cities and towns. Their husbandry needs, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment and welfare issues are supervised by approximately 1,200 working veterinarians. This reflects a worrying veterinarian-to-livestock ratio, significantly higher than the WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health) recommendation of minimum one veterinarian per 5,000 livestock units in developing countries. Recent initiatives - such as the launch of a Dairy Technology degree course at Mountain Livestock Research Institute (MLRI), Manasbal, and the recruitment of paraveterinary staff at Shuhama, Division of Veterinary Clinical Complex, SKUAST-Kashmir are commendable steps forward. Furthermore, implementation of several government-backed schemes including the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) by Animal & Sheep Husbandry Departments showcases promising momentum toward modernization and youth engagement.

However, challenges remain. While two veterinary colleges in J&K produce adequate numbers of graduates annually, the growing complexity of animal care demands highly skilled and confident ones to perform optimally in varied and dynamic working conditions and also compete well with the counter parts across the globe. An independent veterinary university exclusively focused on development of highly skilled and dedicated composite team for achieving the optimum levels of the animal production, health and welfare, is the need of the hour. There are approximately 15 dedicated veterinary and animal science universities already existing across the country. The one that is proposed here has to take the temperate geography, strategic location, local requirements and working conditions into consideration.

A nationwide shortfall of over 2 lakh para-veterinarians (as of 2020) highlights the urgent need to establish independent institution/s for paraveterinary sciences in J&K. The institution should offer standardized, practically oriented curriculums under proper regulatory oversight. A Paraveterinary Council, responsible for regulating education and practice, is also crucial to ensure the quality and efficiency of these para-professionals. There are over 20 institutions across India offering diploma programs in paraveterinary sciences; however, not a single such program is available in either of the two agricultural universities in our Union Territory (UT). In contrast, the Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS), Haryana, operates the Institute of Para Veterinary Sciences (IPVS) and has granted affiliation to 16 private institutions for conducting such courses.

Establishing a sufficient number of veterinary polyclinics equipped with round-the-clock indoor facilities and the assured posting of specialists in relevant fields in cities and major towns of the UT by the twin departments of Animal and Sheep Husbandry could revolutionize the veterinary healthcare delivery system.

The demand for animal health professionals is poised to increase dramatically. Global animal food demands are expected to double by 2050. Zoonotic diseases already cause a billion human cases and over a million deaths annually. Concepts like ‘One Health’, ‘Farm to Fork’, ‘Precision Farming’ and ‘Livestock Farming with Care’, and ‘Antibiotic Resistance’ are gaining ground rapidly. Meanwhile, new-age technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Telemedicine, and Wearable Devices are revolutionizing veterinary practice.

In this context, the 2025 WVD theme - “Animal Health Takes a Team”- is not just a slogan. It is a timely, thoughtful reminder of the indispensable role each member of the animal health community is expected to play currently and in the near future. It calls for collective effort, structured development, and policy support to strengthen the veterinary sector - locally and globally. Veterinarians and their support teams are silent sentinels, working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure a healthy balance between animals, humans, and nature. Their work is noble, necessary, and now more relevant than ever. As we celebrate World Veterinary Day 2025, let us honour these unsung heroes and advocate for the reforms and recognition they truly deserve.

"The Quiet Healers"

They do not wear a cape or crown,

Yet lift the sick from sinking down.

With steady hands and gentle tone,

They mend the lives we call our own.

No words from pets to guide the way,

Just eyes that plead - they cannot say.

A vet must read what can’t be heard,

A heart that listens past each word.

Their patients bite, or flee in fear,

But still they soothe and draw them near.

With every wound and midnight call,

They rise, they serve, they give their all.

So here’s to those whose names we miss,

Who heal with touch, with care, with bliss.

In barns or clinics, dusk till dawn,

The vet’s true love just carries on. (Anonymous)

Prof. Mujeeb Fazili, Former Head, Division of Veterinary Clinical Complex, FVSC & AH, Shuhama, SKUAST-Kashmir