A CRANBORNE-based charity had life-saving veterinary teams working all over the world to mark World Veterinary Day on Saturday.

Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) carried out surgical training for vets in India and launched a new clinic in Thailand.

WVS supports more than 600 animal welfare organisations all over the world with vital supplies and teams.

Now in its 11th year, WVS has grown and last year treated more than 88,000 animals and sent a total of 874 veterinary aid parcels to charities in need.

To mark World Veterinary Day, WVS launched the Animal Champions Award, which will give the winner support to tackle an animal welfare project of their choice.

The winner for 2014 is a charity based in northern Thailand that was originally set up to help rescued elephants, but has an increasing number of other animals brought in to them on a regular basis.

WVS has built the charity a new clinic, which will be used for animals arriving at the shelter, but also to start a new neutering and vaccination campaign for owned and feral dogs.

Teams also worked all over India on the day. The WVS International Training Centre in Ooty, Tamil Nadu, trained Indian vets in best practice surgical techniques and a Mission Rabies team worked in Goa on a six-month campaign to vaccinate and neuter 28,000 dogs.

Teams are also working in countries including Botswana and on the island of Grenada.

WVS managing director James Florence said: “At WVS, we like to make the most of World Veterinary Day and really spread the word about the importance of providing veterinary aid to animal welfare charities all over the globe.”

For more information on WVS and to find out how to support the charity’s work, go to www.wvs.org.uk.