Jennifer Fiala

Jennifer Fiala is a former senior editor of DVM Newsmagazine.

Articles by Jennifer Fiala

Schaumburg, Ill.-A task force formed in 1996 to address vaccine-associated soft tissue sarcomas is nearing an end as leaders debate the group's relevancy. At the same time, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is declining requests for $75,000 in financial support.

Tampa, Fla.- As veterinary officials stymie a Colorado bill granting pet owners up to $100,000 for loss of companionship claims, nationwide debate concerning the legal status of pets brews. One by one, America's courts are considering emotional distress and wrongful death lawsuits as pet owners and trial lawyers attempt to raise the value of pets to more than property - a move promising to alter how the country practices and pays for veterinary care.

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Las Vegas, Nev.-Plan on firing, demoting or holding out on staff raises? Then take time to protect your practice against employee legal claims, says Jay O'Brien, executive vice president of ABD Insurance, offering employment practice liability coverage for California DVMs.

Sacramento, Calif.-As the California State Board of Pharmacy argues a legal loophole freeing the agency from controlling the dispensing of veterinary drugs, state veterinary leaders say pending legislation should tie the knot.

Austin, Texas- Last month, Executive Director Ron Allen sliced $44,000 off his budget, ordered his staff to take unpaid vacation days and faces the possible consolidation of the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) with all other state licensing agencies.

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College Station, Texas-In 1997, the $3.7 million Missy-plicity project brought a rash of excitement and media frenzy to Texas A&M University's researchers along with hopes to clone the world's first canine. Five years later, their venture is defunct.

Whitehouse Station, N.J.-In the last four years, Dr. Karan Oberhansley's saved lives by clipping the vocal chords of nearly 150 dogs. Without the procedure, owners of incessant barkers likely would euthanize, she says.

Cleveland- Aptitude tests and grade point averages alone won't likely determine the selection of future veterinary college applicants. Behavior characteristics, too, are critical for success in the profession, research shows.

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Washington-Awaiting congressional support, animal pharmaceutical manufacturers plan to speed up the drug approval process by investing millions into the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM) through self-imposed industry fees.

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Austin, Texas- As PetMed Express settles a slew of administrative battles with state pharmacy boards across the country, Texas leaders strike with litigation to ban company sales in the state and fine the online pet pharmacy $1,000 per day for each day it allegedly sold prescription drugs illegally to Texas consumers.