FOUR PAWS Announces Online Livestream of 2025 State of Animal Welfare Address #SOAWA
FOUR PAWS invites the public to watch and join in on the conversation on the future of animal welfare in SA
Cape Town, 06 August 2025 — FOUR PAWS South Africa is proud to announce that the highly anticipated 2025 State of Animal Welfare Address #SOAWA will take place online via livestream on Wednesday, 13 August 2025 from 10:00 to 11:00 (SAST). The annual event will be made accessible to the general public, offering all South Africans the opportunity to watch and contribute to the national conversation around animal welfare, public health, and environmental sustainability.
Hosted annually by Fiona Miles, Director of FOUR PAWS South Africa, #SOAWA is a high-level platform that brings together government, academia, civil society, and industry leaders to reflect on the state of animal welfare and identify bold, collaborative solutions for a humane and sustainable future.
This year’s theme, “Animal Welfare: A Pillar of One Health and Sustainable Development,” will focus on integrating animal welfare into South Africa’s One Health Action Plan, pandemic prevention strategies, and sustainable food systems.
Join the Online Livestream
- Date: Wednesday, 13 August 2025
- Time: 10:00 – 11:00 (SAST)
- Location: YouTube
- Platform: LIVESTREAM (subscribe to the channel and switch on the notifications)
What to Expect:
- A compelling keynote address by Fiona Miles, Director of FOUR PAWS South Africa
- A high-level panel discussion moderated by Dr Tedson Nkoana (Future Africa)
- Companion Animals - Dr André Coetzer, Technical Director at Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC)
- Farm Animals - Dr Masika Sophie, Global Health Policy Manager at World Federation for Animals (WFA)
- Wild Animals – Fiona Miles, Director at FOUR PAWS South Africa
- Real-time audience participation via live chat and Q&A
- Opportunities to contribute your thoughts on how animal welfare can shape public health, climate resilience, and food system transformation
Whether you're an animal advocate, student, policymaker, professional, or simply curious about how to live in greater harmony with animals and nature, this event is for you.
ENDS/
Deidre Daniels
Public Relations Officer+27 (0)21 702 4277
+27 (0)78 675 8220
9B Bell Crescent, Westlake Business Park,
Green Building, Cape Town, 7945
A Public Relations professional with over eight years’ experience in fostering positive relationships between organisations and media.
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FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sustainable campaigns and projects of FOUR PAWS focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in eleven countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org.za