World Animal Net (WAN) - 1997 

WAN was established to improve communication and coordination among the world's animal protection groups. Today WAN is the world's largest network of animal protection societies with over 3,000 affiliates in more than 100 countries. WAN’s aim is to focus the animal protection movement and strengthen the impact of key animal advocacy efforts. All WAN’s activities are guided by its four original aims:

• Avoid duplication and competition
• Promote innovative programs
• Share information and expertise
• Stimulate cooperation and coalition building

Positives:

• WAN Directory - which facilitates contacts between animal protection organizations.
• Provision of well-researched information and expertise, easily accessible and free-of-charge.
• Offering advice, guidance and contacts.
• Strategic and well-organized, but non-bureaucratic.

 

ACT Asia

ACT Asia has played an important role in supporting Chinese animal protection groups to learn and share experiences through training, sharing of ‘best practice’, and information and advice. They supported the building of an alliance of groups across China (AAC), with the aim of providing a platform for animal protection groups to obtain information, share resources, and take joint action on issues when necessary.

The network’s objectives are:

• Training and development of China's animal protection organizations.
• Provide a platform for Chinese and international groups to interact and to share information and resources.
• Provide a platform to support Chinese animal protection groups with their individual projects.
• Promote animal welfare at a national level.
• Apart from the development of a web site, a major task for the network over the coming year will be the sourcing, translation, and distribution of resources, and partnering ACT Asia in its national campaign.

Positives:

• Experienced international expertise
• Thorough research and analysis
• Chinese connections and in-depth knowledge of subjects
• Animal protection training and development
• Provision of resources and information

Chinese Animal Protection Network (CAPN) - 2004

CAPN is a non-profit animal protection organization, and the first Chinese network for animal protection. Its first project ('Chinese Companion Animal Protection Network') was launched back in 2004, and since then it has covered a variety of animal protection issues. The work of CAPN has expanded rapidly, and it now reaches almost all parts of China, and it has more than 200 partner groups around world.

Positives:

• CAPN was founded by native Chinese people, which include dedicated Chinese activists
• CAPN has increased unity in the Chinese movement.
• It has moved the status of animal protection work onto a science-based footing amongst the animal protection community.
• It has tackled some difficult issues, such as cat and dog eating.

Asian Animal Protection Network (AAPN)

AAPN aimed to develop intra-regional cooperation and provide an entry point for enquiries from other regions. It is a loose, cost-effective network for exchanging information and ideas and general mutual support. A wide variety of issues were covered.

Education/awareness was the prime focus - sharing information, news, published material etc.

Positives:

• Provided much-needed information and support for the development of the Asian animal protection movement in earlier days.

Swedish Animal Protection Network

Animal Protection Network is a Swedish non-profit organization, founded in Stockholm, in 2004. The mission statement is to end the abuse and slaughter of cats and dogs in Asia, especially the different ways in which cats and dogs are tortured before being killed for the purpose of consumption or to be used as fur. The network supports a number of projects in Asia.

Positives:

• Animal Protection Network is able to raise funds from its Swedish members for Asian animal rights organization's local operations.
• The network does not have any staff located in Asia. All the actual work on site is performed by Asian nationals working in their own country.

The Animal Welfare Network Nepal (AWNN) - 2008

AWNN was established to increase the effectiveness and interaction of animal welfare organizations in Nepal. Its objectives are:

• Coordinate the activities of animal welfare organizations
• Raise awareness on animal welfare issues among the public
• Lobby and advocate for animal rights
• Promote stray dog adoptions
• Provide education and support to its members

Positives:

• National networking and coordination.
• Education and support for members.

The Transatlantic Animal Welfare Council (TAWC) - 2010

TAWC was set up to share information and respond to developments in animal welfare-related transatlantic issues and to foster further bonds of cooperation between European and US-based animal protection organizations. It was the intention to represent the interests of animal welfare in the stakeholder dialogue, creating (insofar as possible) a unified transatlantic animal welfare voice, especially on trade deliberations.

TAWC was originally set up to facilitate an informal exchange of information between animal welfare organizations, free of any obligations. Since then, it evolved into a formalized lobbying organization, issuing position statements and speaking on behalf of its constituent members. However, some now want TAWC to revert to a ‘mechanism for informal exchange of information’, which will mean ‘no shared policy statements’ (unless the organizations around the table all want and agree to that). This will mean reversion to a network.

Positives:

• Sharing of knowledge and expertise about a highly technical and politically charged process.
• Formulation of common positions among the world's leading animal protection groups.