Scraps N Treats

 

Petsmart provides first-of-its-kind grant for shelter medicine vet

The University of California at Davis has been given a grant to provide full funding for the nation’s first extension veterinarian in shelter medicine, who will provide knowledge to shelter professionals, veterinary practitioners, and the public regarding care for abandoned pets. The veterinarian will work directly with shelter vets and employees to combat widespread diseases, such as distemper and/or upper respiratory disease, which often attack shelter pet populations and lead to mass euthanasia. The grant, provided by Petsmart Charities, allots $420,750 over three years. Petsmart has called the program “unique and groundbreaking” and hopes it will serve as a model for similar programs around the country.

Women vets outnumber men for first
time in history

According to an American Veterinary Medical Association study published on June 15, female veterinarians outnumber men in the field. The AVMA says veterinary classes are on average 75 percent women, demonstrating that the gender discrimination that used to occur at veterinary schools has waned considerably. Fifty years ago, some schools did not accept women because they believed that handling large animals required a man’s strength. Today, women dominate the practice, causing the AVMA to name 2007 the “DVM Year of the Woman.”

Hemingway cats keep home, for now

Ernest Hemingway’s former home is exempt from a city law prohibiting more than four domestic animals per household, according to a decision made in July by the Key West City Commission. The Hemingway Home and Museum is home to around 60 cats, many of whom are polydactyl. Polydactyl cats have six toes in the front instead of five. The Hemingway House’s next battle is with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which claims the house is an “exhibitor” of cats and needs a special license. The city ruled that the cats are not on exhibition in the manner of circus animals and that they are “an integral part of the history and ambiance of the Hemingway House.” It is believed that Hemingway received his first polydactyl cat in 1935 from a ship’s captain and that many of the current Hemingway cats are direct descendants.