Krista Schultz

Charleston, S.C. - An independent consumer-rights advocate is pushing for a change to state law that would allow veterinarians to face criminal charges for animal abuse and mistreatment.

National Report - Consumers chalked up another victory in the battle of the public's right to know vs. a veterinarian's right to privacy.

Boston - Veterinarians in Massachusetts were snared in the latest identity-theft scare involving some 450,000 licensed professionals.

National Report - A veterinarian seeking to protect his or her reputation and practice may be forced to battle an unlikely nemesis - the mailman.

San Diego - Wind-whipped wildfires drove Southern California residents from a cluster of "horse-loving" communities, leaving veterinarians and volunteers to care for thousands of animals left behind.

National Report - Standards of care are on the rise across the nation. Yet a blurry line marks the difference between negligence and proper care because acceptable standards often are based on region, rather than documented guidelines.

National Report - A potential connection between feline hyperthyroidism (FH) and a flame-retardant chemical found in common household products, house dust and some food items may exist, concludes a recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study.

Denver, Colo. - Changing viewpoints on addressing companion-animal pain and the benefits of doing so are highlighted in newly created pain-management guidelines - the product of a partnership task force between the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP).

Task force to lobby for approval of two new technician-training schools to boost recruitment

National Report - Most residents pursuing specialties far surpass their DVM counterparts in long-term income despite earning just half the average starting salary paid to colleagues who immediately enter practice post graduation.

Washington - A recent American Veterinary Medical Association study reports huge gaps in the earned salaries of equally positioned male and female veterinarians.

Atlanta, Ga. - World Rabies Day, originally designated for Sept. 8 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will be extended through several weeks to include global events with the shared goal of raising international awareness, education and disease prevention.

Monument, Colo. - A nationwide DVM survey is targeting the single largest expense to veterinary practices - inventory management - to better understand challenges and opportunities to improve business performance.

Despite the financial incentives, most students enter practice right after graduation.

Bismarck, N.D. - Outreach to veterinary groups and expansion of its testing services top the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners' (NBVME) agenda for 2007 and beyond.

Washington - Human and veterinary medicine have partnered in a collaboration to strengthen disease prevention and control, education and research initiatives for the benefit of all species.

Even though the veterinary industry is now heavily female-dominated, there is still a [wage] gap.

Washington - Mediation can be a useful conflict-resolution tool in veterinary medicine, a management expert advises.

Davis, Calif.- A Computer Hacker Compromised The Personal Information Of 1,500 University Of California Davis School Of Veterinary Medicine (Svm) Students And Applicants, Leaving The Facility To Fund At Least $25,000 In Credit Checks To Ensure Identity Safety.

Washington, D.C. - The United States is not as prepared as it could be to handle an avian-influenza pandemic, reports a federal audit of USDA efforts.

The town of Miami, Okla., was among the areas hardest hit by floodwaters that ravaged parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas from May through early July, killing 14 people, displacing some 500 animals and raising the specter of long-term health problems for those that survived.

Seattle - Record-breaking attendance and creative sessions - including team-building strategies and a pet-food-recall panel - marked the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine's (ACVIM) 25th Forum.

TRENTON, N.J. - A pending New Jersey bill allowing pet owners to seek loss-of-companionship damages for animals killed or injured by contaminated feed could be a steppingstone to veterinarian vulnerability to similar claims, a veterinary organization warns.

Topeka, Kan. - Veterinarians remain vulnerable to consumer complaints and lawsuits despite legislative efforts in Kansas to exempt health-care professionals.

Denver, Colo. - Colorado's governor inked a new practice-act statute that requires DVMs to report suspected animal abuse. Supported by organized veterinary medicine, the statute change is meant to improve protection of animals and people.

Greensburg, Kan. - When warning sirens wailed just before 10 p.m. on Friday, May 4, residents of this oil, gas and farming town sought cover, bracing themselves for a storm. What they didn't know was that, while most of them would survive the F-5 category tornado, at least 11 people and almost their entire city would succumb to the power and brutality of 205-mph winds.

Sacramento, Calif. - Registered veterinary technicians (RVTs) in California will be able to administer controlled substances under veterinarians' indirect supervision, according to a new interpretation of federal drug laws by the California Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB).

Sacramento, Calif. - Registered veterinary technicians in California are chalking up another task to their approved list - creating a relief hole - despite some opponents classifying the procedure as "surgery" and an infringement on the practice of veterinary medicine.

Schaumburg, Ill. - The American Veterinary Medical Association named Dr. Ron DeHaven as its new executive vice president to help lead the organization and replace retiring Dr. Bruce Little, who has held the position for 11 years.

National Report - As confusion, outcry and updates continue to grow on pace with the pet food recall, several key organized veterinary associations stepped up to help calm the frenzy and restore pet owner sanity.