Day: June 7, 2006

Summit works toward national animal disaster plan For More info click on above link Representatives of approximately 100 government agencies, veterinary and humane organizations, and industry groups gathered at the AVMA National Animal Disaster Summit in May with the goal of preventing future animal-related disasters similar to those witnessed during last year’s hurricane season. When Hurricane Katrina landed along the Gulf Coast, it became painfully obvious how many pet owners were ill-prepared. Moreover, the government’s emergency responders were overwhelmed by the extreme numbers of abandoned pets—50,000 by some estimates—many of them in need of veterinary care.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Michael San Filippo Phone: 847-285-6687 Cell: 847-732-6194 e-mail: msanfilippo@avma.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 2, 2006 Schaumburg, Ill. — America’s livestock and meat industries have one of the world’s best health and safety records, but that status may be threatened in the years ahead because of a projected severe shortage of food animal veterinarians, according to the most comprehensive veterinary business study ever conducted on the current and future state of the large animal veterinary profession. While projected demand for food supply veterinarians will increase a modest 12 percent to 13 percent between now and