Animal Shelters Vie For $500,000 In Adoption ContestAugust 1, 2012Fifty animal shelters across the United States are competing for more than $500,000 in grants through the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ 2012 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge. The shelters will attempt to adopt out at least 300 more cats and dogs during August, September and October 2012 than they did during the same period in 2011. The shelter that increases its year-over-year adoptions by the greatest number over the three months will win the $100,000 grand prize. Starting today and continuing into the weekend, the contestants will hold kickoff events featuring promotions and discounts on adoption fees. “We’ve been watching as the contestants gear up for events and get the most wonderful animals ready for adoption,” said Bert Troughton, vice president of community outreach for the ASPCA. “In this competition, everybody wins–especially the animals!” The contestants and their supporters are promoting the competition through Facebook and the Twitter hashtag #100KChallenge. In addition to the grand prize, the ASPCA will award $25,000 to the second-place finisher and $25,000 to the contestant that does the best at engaging its community members, the ASPCA reported. Organizations that perform the best in each division will be eligible for prizes …
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National Mastitis Council To Host 2-Day ForumJuly 31, 2012 The National Mastitis Council will hold its regional meeting Aug. 15 and 16, 2012, in Sioux Falls, S.D. The conference is aimed at anyone interested in udder health, mastitis control, milking management, milk quality and milk safety, said Anne Saeman, the council’s executive director. Attendees can participate in four out of 10 interactive courses, including: • Prototheca and Klebsiella Mastitis: Major Environmental Mastitis Threats • Identifying Milking System Issues with Dynamic Testing • Tapping the Milk Quality Records Analysis Potential of PCDART Management Software • Successfully Planning for Success: Developing a Growth Strategy • Troubleshooting Bacteria Issues • Keeping the Parlor Crew on Target for 22 Hours a Day by Using Performance Information • Conducting a Dairy Farm Milk Quality Walk-Through • System Analysis Following the NMC Procedures for Evaluating Vacuum Levels and Air Flow in Milking Systems • Understanding and Coupling Bacterial Cultures with Other Milk Quality Tests to Solve On-Farm Problems A Spanish-taught course, “The Reasons Behind Udder Preparation,” will be offered to promote the importance of milk quality to Spanish-speaking employees. Registration is available here. <HOME>
VitaKitty Chicken Treats Subject To Limited RecallJuly 30, 2012 Los Angeles-based Arthur Dogswell LLC is voluntarily recalling 1,051 cartons of its Catswell brand VitaKitty Chicken Breast with Flaxseed and Vitamins treats because the product could contain propylene glycol from glycerin found in a vitamin E supplement used during manufacturing. Propylene glycol in high levels causes anemia in cats. No illnesses have been reported. The VitaKitty cartons in question were distributed nationwide via retail and mail order outlets from April 13 through June 14, 2012. The recalled jerky treats were packaged in a resealable 2-ounce orange plastic bag with a clear window. The lot codes, found on the back side of each package, include: SEW12CH032701/03c with a best before date of 9/10/13 SEW12CH032702/03c with a best before date of 9/11/13 The recall followed a routine surveillance sample collected by Dogswell and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “We are taking this voluntary action because it is in the best interests of our customers and their feline companions,” said Marco Giannini, the company’s CEO and founder. Customers with recalled VitaKitty treats should return it to the store for a full refund. Online retailers should be contacted for information about return and refund policies. …
Purina Feed Recalls Vitamin D Deficient Poultry ProductsJuly 30, 2012Purina Feed Recalls Vitamin D Deficient Poultry ProductsPurina recall, Purina Feed recall, poultry feeed recallLand O'Lakes Purina Feed LLC recalled several lots of Purina Honor Show Chow and DuMOR Show Poultry feed products due to a lack of added vitamin D, the company reported today.Land O'Lakes Purina Feed LLC recalled several lots of Purina Honor Show Chow and DuMOR Show Poultry feed products due to a lack of added vitamin D.newsline, recallPurina Feed Recalls Vitamin D Deficient Poultry ProductsPosted: July 30, 2012, 4:30 p.m. EDT Land O'Lakes Purina Feed LLC recalled several lots of Purina Honor Show Chow and DuMOR Show Poultry feed products due to a lack of added vitamin D, the company reported today. Inadequate levels of vitamin D in a bird's diet for more than two to three weeks may cause bone weakness, fractures, joint problems and potentially death if the birds are not exposed to direct sunlight daily, the company reported. Birds living outdoors may not experience symptoms due to the formation of natural vitamin D that occurs with exposure to a minimum of 30 minutes of direct sunlight daily, the company reported. The company has not received any reports of animal illnesses involving the recalled …
Petsmart Charities Funds Pit Bull Spay/Neuter CampaignJuly 30, 2012 Sixty-three nonprofit spay/neuter clinics in the United States are offering $20 spay and neuter surgeries for pit bull terriers in August through “Primp Your Pit,” a promotion sponsored by Petsmart Charities Inc. The program, part of a $1 million Petsmart Charities grant program, aims to provide 6,750 surgeries to pit bulls in 30 states. “Our national grant program gives much-needed help to pit bull terriers that are especially at risk,” said Susana Maddalena, executive director of Petsmart Charities. “Through the ‘Primp Your Pit’ promotion and our ongoing efforts to make affordable spay/neuter surgeries available to the public, pet parents can prevent unwanted litters and ensure their pet lives a long, happy life.” Participating clinics receive grant money to help lower the cost of spay and neuter surgeries and help pay for marketing materials and advertising, Petsmart Charities reported. A searchable database of participating clinics is available at www.petsmartcharities.org through the Spray/Neuter link. The database is a collaborative effort of Petsmart Charities and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. <HOME>
FDA Aims To Enhance Antimicrobial Drug Use DataJuly 27, 2012 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is seeking public comment on how the agency can collect more detailed information on antimicrobial drug use and how best to disseminate that information without stepping on manufacturers’ toes, the FDA reported today. Under current law, manufacturers are required to report how much of each antimicrobial product they sell and distribute and for which species the product is indicated. However, some classes of antimicrobials are indicated for more than one species, making it difficult for the FDA to determine how much of each product is being used in each species. The Government Accountability Office concluded that the information collected by the FDA does not provide sufficient data to analyze trends in antimicrobial resistance, so the agency is requesting that manufacturers provide an estimate on how much of each drug is being used on each species. The enhanced information would allow the agency to better correlate antimicrobial drug use to antimicrobial resistance, as measured by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System. The FDA also publishes antimicrobial sales and distribution reports for public consumption, but under current law the agency is allowed only …
VCA Hospital, Lab Revenues Gain In Q2July 26, 2012VCA Hospital, Lab Revenues Gain in Q2VCA Antech, animal hospital, VCA revenues, VCA Antech earnings, VCA Antech hospital, VCA Antech second quarter growthSecond quarter revenues for VCA Antech rose 16.6 percent in the second quarter, including 0.2 percent same-store revenue growth and 2.6 percent growth in laboratory revenue, the Los Angeles-based company reported today.Second quarter revenues for VCA Antech rose 16.6 percent in the second quarter, including 0.2 percent same-store revenue growth and 2.6 percent growth in laboratory revenue.newslineVCA Hospital, Lab Revenues Gain in Q2Posted: July 26, 2012, 5:45 p.m. EDT Second quarter revenues for VCA Antech rose 16.6 percent in the second quarter, including 0.2 percent same-store revenue growth and 2.6 percent growth in laboratory revenue, the Los Angeles-based company reported today. During the second quarter, the company also acquired five independent animal hospitals with historical combined annual revenue of $10.8 million, driving overall hospital revenues up 17.5 percent. However, same-store adjusted gross profit margin decreased from 18.3 percent in Q2 of 2011 to 15.5 percent this year. "We continued to grow revenue during the quarter as a result of both acquisitions and same-store results," said Bob Antin, …
InFURvention Contest Runs Until Aug. 17July 25, 2012 Banfield Pet Hospital and Animal Planet’s resident pet trainer, Victoria Stilwell, are asking U.S. cat owners to upload videos of their real-life struggles to get their cat into a carrier before a visit to the veterinarian. The “inFURvention” campaign began July 18, 2012, and runs through Aug. 17, 2012. The goal is to document pet owners’ difficulties in getting cats into carriers and off to the vet and increase awareness of the importance of regular veterinary visits. One winning inFURvention video will be chosen. The cat owner will receive a year’s worth of free preventive veterinary care and an at-home visit and training consultation from Stilwell. “Pet owners don’t have to be a professional in order to train their cats to get into a carrier,” Stillwell said. “All it takes is some practice and simple behavior, and catfights will soon be a thing of the past.” A 2011 Bayer Animal Health study noted that of the 86 million pet cats in the United States, one-third miss out on veterinarian visits because their owners want to avoid the travel hassle. Victoria Stilwell, Animal Planet's …
Lafeber Recalls Bird Feed Due To MoistureJuly 25, 2012 Bird feed manufacturer Lafeber Co. recalled several lots of bird food due to pockets of high moisture that could lead to bacterial or fungal growth, the Cornell, Ill.-based company reported. One of the grains Lafeber uses in several products was not properly stored prior to the company taking possession of it, causing the moisture pockets to form. Over time, the higher moisture levels can lead to bacterial or fungal growth, the company said. The recalled products include: Product description Best Before Parrot Nutri-Berries 12 oz. tubs 121913B Parrot Nutri-Berries 3.25 lb. tubs, 20 lb. boxes 121813A, 121813B, 121913A, 122713A, 122713B and 010514 Parrot Popcorn Nutri-Berries 4 oz., 1 lb. bags 122013 and 122613 Cockatiel Sunny Orchard Nutri-Berries 10 oz. bags 122113 and 010214 Parrot Sunny Orchard Nutri-Berries 10 oz., 3 lb. bags 122513 and 122813 No adverse events have been reported to the company, but Lafeber recommended that customers stop feeding the product. The company has integrated new quality control measures to prevent the issue from occurring in the future, Lafeber said. <HOME>
Hambletonian CE Events Scheduled For AugustJuly 25, 2012 Event marketing agency First Choice Marketing of Morristown, N.J., plans to host the 13th Annual Hambletonian Continuing Education Seminar on Aug. 2, 2012, and the 7th Annual Continuing Education Wet Labs program on Aug. 3, 2012. The seminar and labs will be held in conjunction with the 87th Annual Hambletonian Festival of Racing in East Rutherford, N.J. Through a partnership with the American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians, the seminar and wet labs will be offering CE credits to licensed veterinary technicians and assistants participating in one or both of the seminar and wet labs. The wet labs, to be held at the Meadowlands Racetrack, will include the following sessions: • A Review of Eye Examination Techniques in the Horse with Dennis Brooks, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVO; • Endoscopy of the Upper Airway and Guttural Pouches with Mark Crisman, DVM, M.S., Dipl. ACVIM; • Regenerative Therapies – Stem Cell Therapy: A New, Non-Invasive Method of Collection with Bimodal Treatment and Platelet Therapy: E-PET with Jeffrey Schaffer, DVM, and Shelly Zacharias, DVM; • Equine Musculoskeletal Radiography with Alex Valdes-Martinez, DVM, Dipl. ACVR; • Equine Musculoskeletal Ultrasound with Dr. Valdes-Martinez; • Photographing the Equine Iris for …
