This presentation will consist of a PowerPoint consisting of pictures as well as an outline of slides that will focus on the zoonotic aspects of animal populations in remote communities and the efforts needed to improve this situation with veterinary leadership as the integral component that is essential. The creation of sustainable programs to help overpopulation of companion animals and related zoonotic disease can be a costly venture, and we need groups of people involved in cost sharing. One Health is an ever-evolving concept that is rapidly becoming entrenched in the world.

In this presentation, the focus will be on the intricate relationship between animal welfare and One Health and why they cannot be separated. Overpopulation of animals often results in increases of zoonotic potential and the lack of veterinary services in remote communities results in the potential of zoonotic increases. Zoonotic disease will often result in inhumane treatment of animals with horrible methods to reduce these animal populations (which has been found to not be effective). It takes communication and leadership with veterinarians leading the charge. Public health often has funding available to reduce human population disease, and veterinarians need to communicate with public health officials in order to address the community health issues of both animal and human animal populations. The idea that people cannot be healthy unless their animal populations are healthy is at the crux of One Health.