Jessica Tremayne

New Orleans — About 1,100 veterinarians and 70 practices were located in Katrina's disaster zone according to early estimates from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). At presstime, no DVMs were reported missing or severely injured.

Alamogordo, N.M. — Dr. George L. Wiley stared at the floor in his waiting room as his hands were pulled behind his back and handcuffed by a New Mexico Department of Game and Fish officer.

The profession doesn't have the money or numbers to alter legislation, so becoming involved is imperative.

Long Beach, Calif. — Dr. Michael Andrews will become the 2006 American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) president at the annual conference next month in Long Beach.

NATIONAL REPORT — Veterinary students need to factor educational increases into long-term financial plans. Rising tuition costs usually mean decreased spending limits and increased debt load, experts say.

Boston — The genetic makeup of cancer is the next target for researchers at the Broad Institute after the successful mapping of the canine genome.

College Station, Texas — The second-ever attempt to perform cardiac catheterization on a dog was successful at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Orlando, Fla. — In a push to unify the voice of veterinary medicine, the Florida Veterinary Medical Association is encouraging practitioners to enter politics.

Urbana, Ill. - Toxoplasmosis might be a greater risk to humans than what is perceived, according to a paper written by a University of Illinois (UI) DVM on subclinical effects of the parasite.

Orlando, Fla. — While the eighth storm to hit Florida in the past 14 months spared businesses and residents massive structural damage, practitioners say the lack of electricity put a significant dent in their wallets.

Jackson, La. — Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAVS), a branch of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), deployed more than 1,200 veterinarians and technicians to aid distressed animals in Louisiana and Mississippi in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Fort Collins, Colo.—Colorado State University (CSU) veterinarians are successfully using genetically modified Salmonella to treat soft-tissue sarcomas and melanoma in pet dogs.

"I never felt so helpless in my life," says Dr. Dennis Selig, a Gulfport, Miss., veterinarian, recalling his emotion during Hurricane Katrina. "I couldn't stop anything from being ruined. I thought about how family and friends were holding up and before the storm was over, I was thinking about what I would need to do to fix everything. What Hurricane Katrina didn't finish off, Rita did."

An estimated 100 Texas veterinary practices were located in the area hardest hit by Hurricane Rita, according to the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA); long-term economic damage to practices had not been estimated at presstime.

Pullman, Wash. — Non-technical competencies contributing to career success are being investigated as a new model for training veterinary students.

Denver — A breed ban and subsequent euthanasia of 341 Pit Bulls in Denver is garnering concern from the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA).

New Orleans — Despite deployment of all four Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMATS), strict curfews and restrictions delayed initial rescue efforts for thousands of animals stranded in abandoned dwellings and flood zones.

Minneapolis - Some veterinary leaders want a more diverse veterinary population, and they are willing to take their case tio the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to promulgate it.

Schaumburg, Ill. - The American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) mentoring program is running, but widespread participation proves tougher to achieve.

West Lafayette, IND. — Researchers at Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine found that acrolein, a carcinogen, is present at high levels in spinal tissue several days after an injury.

Overpopulation cannot be solved unless we understand the factors that lead to planned and unplanned births.

MINNEAPOLIS — Critics of veterinary leadership want a more diverse veterinary population, and they are willing to take their case to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to promulgate it.

Denver — Slated for September release, Dental Care Guidelines authored by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) are in the final editing process.

Veterinary practices that sell items to a client without consultation must list the items sold under retail tax.

Ames, Iowa — Dr. Holly Bender, associate professor of veterinary pathology at Iowa State University (ISU) received the 2004 National Carl J. Norden-Pfizer Distinguished Teacher Award.

Schaumburg, Ill. — After a year in the planning stages, the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) mentoring program went live, but it's been a challenge to obtain widespread participation, officials report.

Denver — Slated for September release, Dental Care Guidelines authored by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) are in the final editing process.

New York — In effort to wipe out canine malignant melanoma (CMM), veterinarians and researchers are working together to target the disease with an emerging weapon in the form of a DNA-based vaccine.

Washington — A decrease in veterinary school applicants is a direct result of the U.S. government's failure to supply adequate funding to colleges, authorities say.

Los Angeles — VCA Antech Inc. purchased Pet's Choice Inc., gaining 46 animal hospitals and about 1,000 new employees.