Abstract
A variety of animals from different sources are used during veterinary undergraduate training raising both welfare and ethical issues. In the U.K. a government license is required to perform procedures on animals that are not for the clinical benefit of that animal. As a result of this, procedures such as non-recovery 'pound animal' surgery do not occur during the veterinary undergraduate course. Many different measures, both before and after graduation, are in place in the U.K. to ensure veterinary competency.