Jennifer Fiala

Las Vegas-The U.S. Drug Enforce-ment Administration (DEA) doesn't do spot checks or make social calls. If agents or investigators visit a veterinary practice, there's a problem.

Cleveland- Legislation and lawsuits surfacing in the United States reveal a dithering balance between the profession's defense of veterinary medicine and the public's desire to increase pet value via legal status, classification and economic worth.

Increasingly vulnerable to lawsuits and state board complaints, veterinarians remain on the lookout for liability concerns in their practices, and graduates should beware of the pitfalls of not working in a legally sound environment.

As graduating veterinary students trade caps and gowns for lab coats and clients, most will find their medical training helps little when choosing personal and professional insurance.

Gainesville, Fla.-Immunocontraceptive researchers at University of Florida (UF) are closing in on creating nonsurgical, long-lasting feline contraceptives as tools for population control.

Albuquerque, N.M.-The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) published its strategy to dealing with the nation's 73 million feral or abandoned free-roaming cats, advocating trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs and, in some cases, euthanasia.

East Brunswick, N.J.-The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has declared legal war on a veterinarian and his wife.

Columbus, Ohio-Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) leaders plan to rescind a statewide prohibition on non-DVM ownership of veterinary hospitals and clinics in a move that surprised stakeholders on both sides of the issue.

Schaumburg, Ill.-Five years ago, the KPMG Mega Study reported the female proportion of veterinarians would reach 50 percent by 2004.

Cleveland-The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) explores random hospital inspections in an effort to dissuade practitioners from cheating its accreditation system.

Sacramento, Calif.-California veterinary leaders fault some drug manufacturing insiders for derailing a bill to create a special property classification for pets allowing up to $25,000 in non-economic rewards.

As the Group Health and Life Insurance Trust (GHLIT) reports flat growth due to its average 25-percent annual cost increases, the national veterinary insurance broker rolls out cheaper medical coverage, a dental plan and high-deductible options that translate to federal tax relief.

Oakland, Calif.- State veterinary leaders await a judge's ruling as to whether a Santa Cruz teeth cleaning operation and its understudy illegally practiced veterinary medicine when the student used a scraper during a dog's teeth cleaning and allegedly asphyxiated the animal while restraining it.

Sacramento, Calif. - To make staff health insurance affordable for practice owners, the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) rolls out a cafeteria-style group insurance plan offering employee and family medical coverage to its 5,000-plus members.

Social skills, management abilities help ease way; lean on experienced technicians for support; abandon do-it-yourself attitudes in the workplace

Sacramento, Calif.- The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) supports creating a special property classification for pets that would allow, but limit, non-economic rewards in malpractice lawsuits concerning companion animals.

Faced with doubtful administrators, University of Pennsylvania students raise $70,000 to kick off management program

PetMed Express' financial statements reveal the online/mail-order pet pharmacy's revenues rose 91 percent to top out at $55.4 million from April to September last year, the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) reports.

Springfield, Ill.-At the same time PetMed Express embarks on a nationwide public relations campaign to garner the profession's support, the company threatens legal action against practitioners accused of badmouthing the online/mail-order pet pharmacy.

Des Moines-Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials eased an Iowa crackdown on pet foods containing glucosamine and chondroitin last month with its resolution to review animal supplements, stripping the issue from the state's jurisdiction.

As Wisconsin's governor inks a new law mandating veterinarians in the state receive 30 hours of continuing education biannually, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island legislatures mull much the same issue.

Schaumburg, Ill.-The American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) Judicial Council is investigating whether a member of the group's Animal Welfare Committee lied when he denied authorizing the euthanasia of more than 30,000 live hens via a commercial wood chipper.

Blacksburg, Va.-Dr. Peter Eyre, dean of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine since 1985, announces his immediate resignation citing health reasons.

Tallahassee, Fla.-A legislative venture designed to fetch millions of dollars for Florida spays and neuters wavers in the wake of a power struggle pitting a consortium of humane, government and veterinary groups against an animal rights outfit that founded the project.

Lake Buena Vista, Fla.-A PetMed Express attorney who once represented Florida's veterinary and pharmacy boards accuses practitioners of conspiring against the online pharmacy to impede business and avoid competition.

Des Moines-Pet Food Institute (PFI) officials are, at presstime, scheduled to meet with Iowa regulators in an attempt to squelch a proposed Dec. 1 ban on animal diets containing nutritional supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin.

Dayton, Ohio-Iams Co. officials steadfastly deny animal activist reports that the pet food manufacturer permits animal abuse during the nutritional testing of its products.

Overland Park, Kan.-The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered label changes for ProHeart 6 (moxidectin), a six-month injectable heartworm preventive.

Baton Rouge, La.-Louisiana State University (LSU) police and FBI remain in pursuit of animal rights group members they suspect caused roughly $300,000 in damages to a research laboratory.

Boston-As Tufts University recoups from the bankrupted Tufts Expo, leaders launch plans to host another regional veterinary conference in Providence, Rhode Island.