Day: March 23, 2010

Dog-debarking bill is under consideration in Mass. Senate

Ohio outlawed the practice of debarking vicious canines a decade ago, and Massachusetts may follow suit as the Senate in that state considers similar legislation. According to this article, AVMA says debarking should only be used “as a final alternative after behavioral modification efforts to correct excessive vocalization have failed.” The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)

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March 23, 2010 No Comments

More women pursue veterinary-medicine field than men

The U.S. has more women practicing in veterinary medicine than men, with 44,802 female vets and 43,196 male vets, according to this article, which cites AVMA data from 2009. This trend, which experts say can be attributed to the flexibility of the profession, is especially evident in Michigan, where 87% of students enrolled at the state’s lone vet school are women. Detroit Free Press

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March 23, 2010 No Comments

Okla. program taps into horses to help people with disabilities

A horse-therapy program in Ottawa County, Okla., is offering relief to area residents with disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. The program is a joint effort by Northeastern A&M College and EquiSpirit Academy. Tulsa World (Okla.)

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March 23, 2010 No Comments

Texas agency to build lab for testing livestock diseases

The Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory will set up in Amarillo a $1.7 million laboratory designed to curb potentially fatal diseases affecting livestock in the state. The facility “will allow testing for diseases that could cause severe economic impact — things like foot-and-mouth you don’t find in the U.S., but they could be introduced accidentally or intentionally,” the state agency’s director said. Amarillo Globe-News (Texas)

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March 23, 2010 No Comments