Veterinary Charity Opens State-of-the-Art Training Centre in Thailand to Benefit Global Veterinary Care

In an exciting development for the veterinary world, the international charity Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) has launched a cutting-edge veterinary training centre in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This new facility is designed to meet the growing demand for high-quality veterinary training in South East Asia and beyond, while simultaneously enhancing animal welfare through expert care.

The new specialist veterinary training centre in northern Thailand will be a hub for veterinary professionals and students from both local and international backgrounds. Equipped with state-of-the-art resources, the centre will offer practical, hands-on training in the latest veterinary techniques, making it a game-changer in the region. It is expected that this centre will increase the number of vets trained by 25% and the number of animals treated by 30%, significantly raising the standard of veterinary care across the region.

Since 2015, WVS has been committed to offering high-quality veterinary training in Thailand, and the new centre is a direct response to the increasing demand for skilled veterinary professionals. CEO and Founder of WVS, Dr. Luke Gamble, highlights the global impact of this initiative: “Training vets is at the heart of what WVS does. In 2024, across our seven International Training Centres (ITCs), we trained 2,863 vets. This new facility will enable us to train even more vets and provide them with the skills and knowledge to improve animal welfare worldwide.”

The new centre will not only serve as a training ground but also as a venue for animal welfare conferences. These conferences will foster collaboration between organisations to improve veterinary care and animal welfare throughout South East Asia. The training centre’s advanced design, coupled with practical veterinary techniques, is expected to bring much-needed innovation to the region.

However, the project has not been without its challenges. The build, which began in November 2023, faced delays due to heavy rains, but WVS remained committed to staying on track. Dr. Guy Paparwinsub, WVS Thailand Director, shared that the construction was a five-year journey, with 16 months dedicated to building the facility. Despite these challenges, the charity’s vital work continued uninterrupted. In 2024 alone, the Thai team treated over 8,000 animals that would have otherwise had no access to veterinary care.

The centre officially opened on March 18th, with an opening ceremony attended by representatives from prominent animal welfare organisations, including WOAH, WHO, Dogs Trust, Marchig Animal Welfare Trust, and 11 international veterinary universities. The event also featured a two-day workshop focused on rabies tools, global veterinary training, and humane dog population control.

Owen Sharp, CEO of Dogs Trust and Chair of WVS Trustees, praised the new centre’s role in raising animal welfare standards worldwide. “This ITC is more than just a facility – it’s a gateway to better animal care everywhere. By equipping veterinarians with top-tier training, we’re ensuring that animals receive the compassionate, expert care they deserve,” he said.

The centre's facilities include a cattery, quarantine and rescue clinics, surgery rooms, kennel blocks, and a lecture theatre. These spaces will support both veterinary training and the treatment of animals, making it a versatile resource for the region.

As the WVS continues its mission to improve veterinary care globally, the new centre in Thailand marks a major step forward. By providing state-of-the-art training and resources to veterinarians across the world, WVS is making a lasting impact on animal welfare and setting a new standard for veterinary care in the region.

For more information on the Worldwide Veterinary Service and its work, visit wvs.org.uk.