Association

Reno, Nev. -Maddie's Fund® revved up a campaign in northern Nevada to promote regular veterinary visits for pets. The campaign, "Pets Love Vets," aims to help pets live longer, healthier lives by educating residents about pet care and connecting them with local veterinarians.

Berkeley, Calif. - While debate continues over whether lethal injection in people is cruel and unusual punishment, some are looking to the veterinary community and its method of euthanasia - typically a large dose of pentobarbital.

He will be away from home 330 days out of the year traveling to just about every state by the time it is done.

Tampa, Fla. - Roger Clarke, BVSc, was recognized for advancing animal welfare through extraordinary service and furthering humane principles, education and understanding.

Schaumburg, Ill. - While Minnesota veterinarian James L. Busby is certainly entitled to his opinion, that doesn't mean the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has to like it.

Austin, Texas - The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) will hold two summer continuing-education meetings - one medical and one practice-management seminar - July 27-29 at the Hilton Austin.

New Orleans - The American Veterinary Medical Association's House of Delegates will consider 15 resolutions - the most in recent memory - at the AVMA convention July 18-19. Wide-ranging topics include equal pay for veterinarians and the confinement of calves raised for veal. One proposal on amending policy on antimicrobials in livestock feeds arrived after the 60-day prior notice provision, and will be discussed only if that provision is waived by a two-thirds vote of the House.

UNITY NEEDED; GRASSROOTS EFFORT; FACE THE FUTURE; WELFARE OR WARFARE?

Washington - The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) testified today before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, addressing the preventive use of antimicrobials in food animals and reiterating the necessity of antibiotic use in livestock for ensuring food safety.

Shaumburg, Ill. - To help veterinarians and the public better understand animal-welfare issues, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) launched its first Web section devoted to animal-welfare information.

Schaumburg, Ill. - American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) leaders gave the OK for an exotic companion-mammal specialty practice area that focuses on ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents and other small exotic mammals.

Schaumburg, Ill. - American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) leaders want to tap the group's invested reserves to support up to $1 million in future programs that guide and promote the profession.

Schaumburg, Ill. - The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) remains the sole financier of its One Health initiative, allocating another $12,000 for it during the group's April Executive Board meeting.

The AVMA Strategic Plan, initiated in 2006, is designed to guide the nation's largest veterinary membership group on profession-related issues. The following five critical areas of issue have been identified as well as a basic framework for addressing them:

Schaumburg, Ill. - An amended policy titled "Castration and dehorning of cattle" includes new pain-control and procedural language.

Schaumburg, Ill. - The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) will create a new series of podcasts for pet owners. It's the association's latest effort to inform the public about issues related to pet health, public health and veterinary medicine.

Portland, Ore. - 5/8/08 - Sharon Harmon, executive director of the Oregon Humane Society, is expected to receive the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Humane Award.

Washington - 5-5/2008 - As Public Service Recognition Week kicks off today, officials at the American Veterinary Medical Association called on Congress to unlock funds to help veterinary educators recruit and train DVMs for this sector.

Bethesda, MD. - The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association (HSVMA) is moving forward to develop the new group, including plans this month to announce leadership council members.

Tampa, Fla. - The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) created a program to evaluate animal-insurance plans as a guide for owners.

Springfield, Ill. - A proposed ban on the use of gas for animal euthanasia, considered inhumane treatment, has come under fire from state veterinary leaders who argue the procedure has merit and should not be outlawed completely.

ST. Paul, Minn. - The state veterinary community is contesting a pending bill that would allow human chiropractors to work on pets without veterinary input, saying it would be one of the "loosest" such laws in the country if passed.

Schaumburg, Ill. - Pet health insurance is on the Group Health and Life Insurance Trust's (GHLIT) agenda, with goals to guide veterinarians on current public offerings and tentative plans to provide its own program one day.

Atlanta - Clare B. Reagan, CAE, joins the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association as its executive director.

Tampa, Fla. - The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) met veterinarian requests for a shorter, more concentrated conference to reduce time spent away from practices, but saw attendance drop slightly from 2007 at its annual conference in late March.

Lakewood, Colo. - Created in 1933 to help "pet doctors" boost the standards of companion-animal care, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is marking its 75th anniversary.

Sacramento, Calif. - The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) wants to rid its national counterpart of the vice presidency - an office that critics claim generates more election politics than student interest in the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Tampa, fla. - An American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) fund that aims to provide quality health care for companion animals received a $50,000 donation from CareCredit at the association's annual convention in late March.

Schaumburg, Ill. - 4/22/08 - American Veterinary Medical Association leaders gave the OK for an exotic companion mammal specialty practice area that focuses on ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents and other small exotic mammals.

Bethesda, Md. - 4/15/08 - The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association (HSVMA) is moving forward to develop the new group, including plans this month to announce leadership council members.