Dr Anne Quain

Anne Quain is a companion animal veterinarian, veterinary lecturer, author, and carer of one three-legged cat called Hero adopted from a Sydney cat shelter. She is a Diplomate in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics, and Law in the European College of Behaviour Medicine and Animal Welfare, and a Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Animal Welfare.

As well as being co-author of the textbook Veterinary Ethics: Navigating Tough Cases, and co-editor of The Vet Cookbook, Anne has her own blog, www.smallanimaltalk.com and writes for a number of publications including a regular column with Australian Community Media. She believes that all animals deserve to enjoy the best possible welfare, and all of us (herself included) need to continue to learn so that we can provide it. After all, just because we’ve always done something one way doesn’t mean it’s the right way or the only way.

When Anne grew up, urban animal management was rudimentary. Her first cat walked in the back door just before Anne was born. Since then she has cohabited with a range of species, including reptiles, birds, and guinea pigs. She learned about the birds and the bees when the local pet store sold her two “male” mice (both pregnant females). It was inevitable that she would end up working with animals.

After studying a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in philosophy), Anne completed a Bachelor of Veterinary Science, with a Bachelor of Science in the middle to study diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). She has since completed a Masters in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery through Murdoch University, a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, and is in the final throes of a late-career Ph.D. in veterinary ethics at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science.

Anne has worked with a number of organisations including the RSPCA, Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities, Cat Protection Society, Pets in the Park, the Australian Veterinary Association, One Welfare World, Getting 2 Zero, and Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association to promote animal welfare. She knows how emotionally challenging – and rewarding – addressing animal welfare concerns and saving lives can be. She has an interest in all aspects of animal welfare science, and a particular interest in companion animals.

In her spare time, she enjoys snorkelling, taking photos, and cooking.