Jennifer Fiala

Schaumburg, Ill. — Armed with $200,000 in the bank and a charitable mission to promote disaster preparedness, American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) leaders find themselves battling for the organization's life.

Washington — United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers have yielded mastitis-resistant dairy cows using gene-transfer technology.

Fort Collins, Colo. — Just one percent of producers at dairy operations are unaware of Johne's disease, down 10 percent in 1996. Yet those same producers are lax when it comes to biosecurity.

Schaumburg, Ill. - The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) plans to rank as the nation's authority on animal welfare and establish the profession as a vital guide to welfare ideals by 2008.

When it comes to unionizing, hosting an open dialogue between owners and staff works to fend off most organizing situations.

Washington — As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) faces a regulatory petition to ban antibiotics in animal feed, veterinary leaders watch as Congress considers roughly identical measures.

Columbus, Ohio — As Ohio lawmakers haggle over a $51.3-billion budget initiative, several amendments have caught the attention of veterinary leaders in the state.

Veterinary leaders plan to pitch a $1-million program to Congress, calling for educational debt relief for DVMs who practice in underserved and largely rural areas of the United States.

Manhattan, Kan — Pending study results reportedly track a shortage of food-supply veterinarians in the United States and rate the nation's demand for them.

Columbus, Ohio — Lack of science supporting the case that aggression is not a breed-specific behavior damages the profession's attempts to remove the term "Pit Bull" from dangerous dog legislation.

Sacramento, Calif. - As the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) takes heat for fighting West Hollywood's declaw ban, the group votes to support legislation to outlaw ear cropping, a largely cosmetic procedure.

Sacramento, Calif.—Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger shelved his reorganization plan to eliminate 88 independent regulatory agencies, including the California Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB).

MADISON, WIS. — A poll of Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association (WVMA) members reveals increased numbers of food animal and equine practitioners in the state, contrary to reports that a nationwide shift to small animal practice has left this population segment anemic.

Hershey, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) approved last month the release of two position statements and a resolution addressing hot-button issues involving pets.

FORT COLLINS, TEXAS — The veterinary medical industry in Texas contributes more than $1.7 billion to the state's economy with services totaling $827 billion annually.

Las Vegas — A good patient history offers clues to physical exam findings, behavioral disorders or potential environmental hazards that threaten birds.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. — A lawsuit filed by the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) against West Hollywood seeks to stop the city from banning veterinary surgical procedures already legal in the state.

Washington—With zoonotic and emerging animal diseases rising at rates unforeseen a decade ago, the onus rests largely on veterinarians to shield the world from infectious animal disease spread.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. —The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), at presstime, was weighing options to block an attempt to ban several surgical procedures in a city that deems declawing a criminal act.

Washington - By the time this year's graduates reach retirement age, they likely will have witnessed a disease epidemic.

Cleveland - Clients judge a book by its cover. There's no way to get around it, especially when it comes to students and new graduates.

WASHINGTON —Veterinary leaders commend President Bush's call to enact association health plans (AHP) during his State of the Union speech Feb. 2, citing national policies as a means of insurance savings for small business owners.

KANSAS CITY — Model practice act standards embracing chiropractic and physical therapies likely will make the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) agenda during the group's annual September conference.

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.— In an effort to streamline state government, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is threatening the state's 88 independent regulatory agencies with consolidation — a move that would eliminate the California Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB).

SCHAUMBURG, ILL. — As friction among American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) ruling parties mounts, an apparent power struggle emerges on issues ranging from welfare and constitution reform to leadership and tsunami relief.

SCHAUMBURG, ILL. —The 2006 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) presidential election promises a race between at least two candidates.

Sacramento, Calif. — The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) deemed West Hollywood's declaw ban unconstitutional.

To view the proposal titled "Writing the Script in Wisconsin," visit www.writingthescript.com.

Ithaca, N.Y. — Canine parvovirus has undergone epidemic-like growth since its emergence in the late 1970s, effectively doubling its population size every few years.

SAN FRANCISCO —Veterinarians cannot qualify for overtime protection under the Fair Labors Standards Act (FLSA), which requires time-and-a-half pay for hours on the job in addition to a 40-hour week.