Merck Completes Merger With Schering-PloughNovember 12, 2009 Merck & Co. Inc. has officially acquired Schering-Plough and its subsidiary Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. The companies began combined operations on Nov. 4. Merck, which sold its 50 percent of Merial Ltd. to joint venture parnter Sanofi-Aventis on Sept. 18, first announced its intentions to acquire the Kenilworth, N.J.-based company for $41.1 billion in early March. Richard Clark, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Merck, will lead the combined company, which will operate under the Merck name and be headquartered in Whitehouse Station, N.J. “With our merger now complete, we are ready to deliver on the promise of a new Merck built on a foundation of scientific innovation and dedication to the well-being of patients around the world,” Clark said. “On ‘Day One’ for the new Merck, we are stronger and better equipped to make a difference in the lives of people globally through our broadened, diversified portfolio of innovative medicines and vaccines, and products for consumer and animal health.” Merck’s animal health business has more than 1,000 marketed products and generates about $3 billion in revenue, according to the company. Merck reported that its integration plans are focused on the …
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PawsPlus Acquires Animal Health AssociatesNovember 12, 2009 PawsPlus Inc., the holding company for Vetco Hospitals Inc., has acquired Animal Health Associates Inc. in an all-stock transaction. Both companies are based in Sarasota, Fla. Vetco Hospitals and Animal Health operate pet vaccination clinics in pet stores. With the acquisition, PawsPlus will offer almost 700 vaccination clinics in eight states. Five full-service Vetco Hospitals are in Southern California. “This is a perfect fit,” said K. Bryan Shobe, CEO of PawsPlus. “Animal Health is a significant player in the pet vaccination services industry, serving clients in Florida and Georgia inside Pet Supermarket, Tractor Supply Co. and independent pet stores. Their corporate philosophy, organizational structure and business model closely mirror that of our operating subsidiary, Vetco Hospitals.” George Johnson, co-founder of Animal Health, was named chief operating officer and president of PawsPlus. PawsPlus, which moved its headquarters into the newly expanded Animal Health offices in Sarasota, set a sales record in the first half of 2009 despite the flagging economy, Shobe said. Vetco’s six-month sales ending June 30 were $7.1 million, a 25 percent increase from the year-ago period. Animal Health saw sales of $3.1 million in the first six months. Combined sales for …
More Oregon Ferrets Test Positive For H1N1November 11, 2009 Oregon state officials confirmed Nov. 10 that three more ferrets have tested positive for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. This brings the total number of cases affecting ferrets in the state to four, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. The ferrets that tested positive for the virus are among a group of nine ferrets that live with a family in the Roseburg area, said Emilio DeBess, DVM, Oregon State Public Health Veterinarian. All nine ferrets exhibited flu-like symptoms, but only three were taken to the veterinarian. Those three tested positive. The other ferrets were not tested, but it is believed they may have had the virus as well. All nine ferrets have recovered. The family members owning the ferrets were reportedly sick with flu-like symptoms the week prior to the animals becoming ill, according to Dr. DeBess. There are no indications that the ferrets passed the virus on to people or any other species of animal, he added. The first ferret in Oregon confirmed with the virus was diagnosed in early October. All of the sick ferrets have recovered. One ferret in Nebraska that had been confirmed with the virus has died. The Oregon …
Petsmart Adds More Pet Carousel Products To Recall ListNovember 10, 2009 Petsmart's voluntary recall of beef hoof products was expanded Nov. 10 to include a dozen more products manufactured by Pet Carousel Inc. of Sanger, Calif., because of concerns of potential salmonella contamination. The newly recalled products include additional beef hoof chews and certain rope toys containing hoof or bone components. The retailer also expanded the purchase dates to include products bought from Sept. 1 to Nov. 6. The complete list of recalled products is: Dentley’s Bulk Cattle Hoof: 1611247 (SKU), 73725703323 (UPC) Dentley’s Choobles 10-Pack Beef Hooves: 5019015 (SKU), 73725736055 (UPC) Choo-Hooves Stuffed With Cheese-Bacon: 1611993 (SKU), 3465190058 (UPC) Choo-Hooves Stuffed With Peanut Butter: 611994 (SKU), 3465190056 (UPC) Flossy Chews Choo-Hoove Roper Two-Hooves: 1813131 (SKU), 3465117005 (UPC) Flossy Chews Roper Bone Buddy: 1815505 (SKU), 3465190002 (UPC) Flossy Chews Beef Bones With Rope Toy: 5080721 (SKU), 3465117055 (UPC) Flossy Chews White Bone Rope: 5147942 (SKU), 3465117065 (UPC) Knucle Steaks 2-Pack: 5084141 (SKU), 3465190046 (UPC) Choo-Hooves Dog Chews 3-Pack: 1611410 (SKU), 3465184103 (UPC) 3-Pack Smoked Hooves: 5042279 (SKU), 3465114003 (UPC), 34651140037 (UPC) 5-lb. Cow Hooves: 5042275 (SKU), 34651150609 (UPC), 3465115060 (UPC) 5-lb. Smokies-Hooves: 5042277 (SKU), 34651140556 …
University Of California Launches Global Health InstituteNovember 10, 2009 The University of California on Nov. 9 launched a Global Health Institute using almost $4 million in startup funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The institute will begin a one-year master’s degree program for enrolling students in fall 2011 and focus the expertise of the university’s 10 campuses in creating solutions to the world’s global health challenges. “One Health: Water, Animals, Food and Society” is one of the three multicampus, multidisciplinary centers established under the institute. “It is becoming very clear that we in the United States both receive and contribute to global health problems,” said Patricia Conrad, DVM, Ph.D., a professor in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, who will lead the One Health Center. “This year we saw how new diseases like H1N1 influenza are only a short flight away from us in California and how, within days, they can spread worldwide. We also are seeing how financial decisions made in the United States can profoundly impact the entire world’s economy, just as our carbon use can alter the world’s climate. “Our students see this clearly, and they want the practical skills, relevant knowledge and opportunities to help solve the …
Beverly Hills Moves Toward Declaw BanNovember 6, 2009 Beverly Hills is the latest California city to push for an ordinance that would ban cat declawing. The City Council gave initial approval with a 5-0 vote Nov. 5. A second vote is expected Nov. 17, the Los Angeles Times reported. Beverly Hills is following Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Francisco, Malibu and Berkley in trying to get declaw ordinances passed and enacted before Dec. 31. The hard push is to avoid Senate Bill 762, which takes effect Jan. 1. SB 762 was signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on July 2 and, in short, will not allow cities and counties to pass ordinances banning medical procedures. The legislation, supported by the California Veterinary Medical Assn., was in response to West Hollywood’s 2003 ban on the procedure. The CVMA contends that standards for medical professionals should be uniform statewide. According to the CVMA’s position statement: “The decision to declaw a cat should be made by the owner in consultation with their veterinarian. The declawing of cats may become necessary for medical or behavioral reasons and should be used instead of abandonment or euthanasia.” Anti-declaw groups such as The Paw Project say the procedure causes …
FDA Warns Not To Use Pet Carousel’s Pig Ears, Beef HoovesNovember 6, 2009 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use pig ear and beef hoof pet treats manufactured by Pet Carousel Inc. of Sanger, Calif., because of potential salmonella contamination. The pig ear products were packaged under the brand names Doggie Delight and Pet Carousel. The beef hooves were packaged under the brand names Choo Hooves, Dentley’s, Doggie Delight and Pet Carousel. The products were distributed nationwide in bulk and retail packaging for sale in pet food and chain stores. All size and all lots of the products are included in the FDA’s warning, issued Nov. 5. Petsmart voluntarily recalled its Dentley’s beef hooves Nov. 4. The products include Dentley’s Bulk Cattle Hoof and Dentley’s 10-Pack Beef Hooves. Read the full story here. The FDA’s warning came after the agency did routine testing in September of Pet Carousel’s pig ears. The results detected a positive reading for salmonella, thus prompting an investigation, according to the FDA. The FDA said it found salmonella present in not only the pig ears, but in beef hooves and in the manufacturing environment. The FDA has not reported any illnesses associated with the pet …
Petsmart Recalls Dentley’s Beef HoovesNovember 5, 2009 Due to concerns of potential salmonella contamination, Petsmart has voluntarily recalled two of its Dentley’s Beef Hoof products for dogs. Customers who purchased the following products between Oct. 2 and Nov. 3 should discontinue using them immediately: Description SKU# UPC# Use By Date Dentley’s Bulk Cattle Hoof 1611247 73725703323 10/14/2012 Dentley’s 10 Pack Beef Hooves 5019015 73725736055 10/14/2012 Customers can return recalled products to any Petsmart store for a complete refund or exchange. Jessica White, Petsmart spokeswoman, said the company was notified of the potential salmonella contamination by the manufacturer, Pet Carousel Inc. of Sanger, Calif. According to Petsmart, the affected products were shipped from Pet Carousel’s facility in Sanger to Petsmart distribution centers in Ottawa, Ill., Groveport, Ohio and Newnan, Ga., then shipped directly to certain Petsmart stores. Petsmart has opted to …
New Orleans Mandatory Dog Spay/Neuter Ordinance ScrappedNovember 5, 2009 New Orleans City Council member Cynthia Hedge-Morrell withdrew her mandatory spay/neuter and breeding restrictions proposal on late Nov. 4, a day before it was to be voted on by the full council. Hedge-Morrell introduced the ordinance in September stating that the aim was to encourage pet owners to be responsible as well as help fund animal control operations. The ordinance had been amended since the introduction to allow dog owners to have the choice of whether to keep their dog intact by paying an initial $30 permit application fee plus a $20 annual permit fee. However, since the proposed fee must first be advertised to the public before the council can vote on it, the ordinance was withdrawn from the agenda, according to Joshua Barnett, director of communications, Office of Councilmember Cynthia Hedge-Morrell. “We are going to use this time as an opportunity to get more info and input from breeders and veterinarians [to make this the best ordinance it can be],” Barnett said. A time frame as to when the topic would be re-visited couldn’t be determined, according to Barnett. The American Kennel Club has been strongly opposed to the ordinance and …
New Legislation Aims To Regulate How Research Facilities Acquire AnimalsNovember 5, 2009 Two bills were recently introduced that aims to ensure that all dogs and cats used by research facilities are obtained legally. House Bill 3907 and Senate Bill 1834 would amend the Animal Welfare Act through the “Pet Safety and Protection Act of 2009.” Similar legislation was introduced in 2007, but no action was taken. The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council recently sent out an alert urging people to read the bills and to contact the committee members with any inquiries. The legislation, as outlined by PIJAC, states that a research facility or a Federal research facility, or any person selling, donating or offering a dog or cat to a research facility or a Federal research facility, may obtain a dog or cat for research or educational purposes from the following: a dealer licensed under section 3 that has bred and raised the dog or cat; a publicly owned and operated pound or shelter that a) is registered with the Secretary, b) in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and c) obtained the dog or cat from its legal owner, not a pound or shelter; a person that is donating the dog or cat and …
