Breaking News

Ames, Iowa -- Employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are under investigation after allegedly using veterinary credentials to purchase medications for human use.

Pullman, Wash. -- The dismal economy has prompted Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine to cancel its 2009 Conference for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians slated for next month in Spokane.

Meridian, ID -- MWI's stock shot up 28 percent today in trading after the veterinary distributor announced 14 percent growth in fourth-quarter revenues over the same period last year.

Columbia, S.C. -- Veterinarians and animal-welfare groups are among those named in civil lawsuits filed by two members of a South Carolina family who seek more than $300 million in damages, fees and restitution for what they claim are unjustified animal-cruelty charges brought against them last year.

Davis, Calif. -- The Center for Companion Animal Health, University of California, Davis, received a $100,000 grant for the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program from the ASPCA.

Brunswick, Ga. - Charged with improperly disposing of two dead horses, citizens spoke up to vindicate this veterinarian.

Schaumburg, Ill. -- The AVMA has approved a five-city convention site rotation that should help bolster meeting attendance by appealing to veterinarians' desire to visit tourist destinations.

Washington - It took three veterinarians and a dozen other workers two hours to free a 10-year-old horse at the start of the inauguration parade Jan. 20.

National Report - When Hurricane Ike hit Texas last fall, Texas Veterinary Medical Association Executive Director Elbert Hutchins likened the storm's impact to a bomb site. FEMA dropped $1.4 billion to clean it up.

Miami Beach -- The American Association of Equine Practitioners' (AAEP) On Call program, which provides veterinary expertise to the media at racing and other equine competitive events, received the Thoroughbred racing industry's prestigious Eclipse Special Award.

Bismarck, N.D. -- The nation's last three horse slaughterhouses closed in 2007, but a new one could be built in North Dakota, depending on the outcome of a feasibility study requested by two state legislators.

Topeka -- Hill?s Pet Nutrition Inc. and a number of veterinary organizations will kick off the 15th annual Pets Need Dental Care, Too campaign on Sunday.

Schaumburg, Ill. -- Two AVMA staff veterinarians recently earned new educational credentials, including a newly created certification in public health.

Rockville, Md. -- The list of recalled products containing peanut derivatives, compiled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has grown over the last few days, with seven additional pet-food products being added.

Athens, Ga. -- When disaster strikes, veterinarians in Georgia will respond and not just to help animals.

Washington -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued its final guidance on regulating genetically engineered animals.

Fort Collins, Colo. -- A blood test that can show whether a horse has minor bone damage long before it develops into more serious problems shows a high success rate in tests and should be coming to the market soon.

New York -- Pfizer and Wyeth (parent company of Fort Dodge Animal Health) today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement. Pfizer will acquire Wyeth in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $68 billion, the companies report in a prepared statement. The Boards of Directors of both companies have approved the combination.

Philadelphia -- The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.

Pullman, Wash. -- A $25,000 scholarship has been established in honor of Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine former dean, Warwick Bayly.

Denver - A Colorado bill introduced on Jan. 21 would limit the number of dogs owned by commercial breeders and mandate veterinary certification exams for those dogs that are bred commercially.

Raleigh, N.C. -- The Labrador Retriever is again the nation's most popular purebred dog, but that has nothing to do with the recent movie, "Marley and Me."

Rockville, Md. -- While no pets have been reported ill, the Food and Drug Administration expanded its list of recalled pet-food products with contaminated peanut butter.

Chicago -- Clients with pet health insurance spend and visit the veterinarian more, according to a new survey conducted by the Brakke Veterinary Practice Management Group for the National Commission on Veterinary Economic Issues.

Min Online has announced finalists in the Best of the Web Awards, which recognizes outstanding websites of consumer and business-to-business magazines.

Lynchburg, Va. -- PetSmart voluntarily pulled some pet treats off its shelves after a peanut-containing paste was linked to a recent Salmonella typhimurium outbreak.

The capital is a notoriously transient city, but practices don't expect the presidential switch to have much affect on their business.

Orlando -- Attendance at this year's North American Veterinary Conference is down by about 12 percent from last year, according conference estimates.

Annapolis, Md. -- Animal shelters throughout Maryland again have access to drugs needed to perform their work safely and humanely, because of recent legislation and action by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Denver -- Colorado lawmakers are considering a bill that would force cat owners to microchip or tag their pets.