Rona Brown
a world renowned animal consultant/trainer/HOD in movies such as Gorillas in the Mist and Anna & the King.

• PAWSI was an evolution from work led by Rona Brown.
   
• Rona first established the Animal Filming Training Commission (AFTC) and involved Peter Scott, John Barrt, Gerry & Cathy Cott and RSPCA representatives to develop an NVQ training structure for the film industry lead body Skillset.
   
• When AFTC had done its job Rona Brown and Peter Scott continued looking at standards for on set welfare and met with various groups such as ACTA and the AHA, ultimately forming PAWSI in 2000.
   
• Rona and Peter involved the then Chief Veterinary Officer of the RSPCA Chris Laurence and his Deputy CVO Steve Cheetham in developing the structure of the standards.
   
• When the standards were ready to be launched PAWSI then became involved with Defra and its Animal Welfare Bill team which showed interest in PAWSI perhaps becoming the industry regulatory body. PAWSI was then asked to begin development of standards for circus and other live performance as well as film and TV.
   
• In 2006 the PAWSI Council was formed and at the first meeting to discuss a structure and constitution was held at the offices of the Dogs Trust and attended by representatives of Defra, Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly, Dogs Trust, Association of Circus Proprietors (ACP), Animal Consultants and Trainers Association (ACTA), Production Guild, Equity, Sparsholt College, BIAZA
   
• Detailed standards have been developed along with a registration scheme for trainers and animal suppliers, veterinary inspections will check these and UKAS approval will be sought.
   
• Productions will be encouraged tio use only registered trainers. For productions to be able to use the PAWSI logo to attest to the welfare standards of the production a further requirement of veterinary audit and inspection of the production will be required.

Peter Scott
a leading UK veterinary surgeon also working in film and TV on such films as Fierce Creatures, 101 and 102 Dalmations

Attendees to PAWSI Council @ March 2006

Rona Brown, Peter Scott FRCVS, Tanya Steel
ACTA- Jamie Crittall MRCVS, Jim Clubb
Independent - Stephen Ware MRCVS
Circus/stage - Malcolm Clay ACP, Martin Lacey, Martin Burton, Chris Barltrop
BIAZA - Miranda Stevenson
Welfare - Chris Laurence MRCVS Dogs Trust, Mike Flynn SSPCA
Robin Taylor-Milton Sparsholt College
Production- David Martin Production Guild

Observers
DEFRA - Henry Hoppe, Graham Thurlow, Laura John
Scottish Executive - Ian Strachan
Welsh Assembly - Alun Streeter
RSPCA -Rob Atkins

Others having agreed to join:
Marthe Kiley-Worthington, Christine Payne (Equity)