Animal Welfare

15 October

Giving hope to pets and their owners struggling to afford care.

wsvma   |   Animal Welfare, Practice Management, WSVMA News

The Washington State Animal Health Foundation is excited to share a new resource intended to help you better serve your clients who struggle with affording important veterinary treatment - The Vets Helping Pets Fund. The Vets Helping Pets Fund will allow WSVMA members and their associates to advocate for clients in need and receive financial support to be able to provide needed care and treatment for their beloved animal companions. We understand that many families struggle to afford care and our...

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14 May

New AVMA program gets charitable care to needy pets

wsvma   |   Animal Welfare, Professional News

A new grant program available exclusively to AVMA members reimburses veterinarians who provide discounted or free services to help low-income families afford care for sick or injured pets. The AVMF National Veterinary Charitable Care Grant Program provides AVMA member veterinary practitioners with a simple and effective way to offer low or no-cost, necessary veterinary services to the animals of clients facing personal hardships due to COVID-19 or Domestic Violence. Applicants will be reimbursed in full or in part for the cost...

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18 September

World Vets responds to Okanagan fires

wsvma   |   Animal Welfare

World Vets, the international veterinary aid organization based in Gig Harbor, WA, has sent their disaster response team to provide veterinary relief for animals impacted by the Cold Springs and Pearl Hill fires in the Omak, Washington area. There are four large and mixed animal veterinarians onsite, with a fifth veterinarian arriving today, working under the Okanagan County Fairgrounds Cold Springs Fire Relief. They’re providing mobile response to address the needs of primarily horses and cattle that have been impacted...

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11 September

Animal Health Import Requirements Waiver for animals affected by Oregon wildfires

wsvma   |   Animal Welfare, State Regulatory

The Washington State Veterinarian’s Office is waiving import requirements on livestock from Oregon, allowing these animals a temporary stay in Washington state, provided they do not change ownership and return to Oregon within 30 days. This temporary waiver comes as evacuations due to wildfires in Oregon have placed a significant strain in the state on available stalls and pastures for sheltering horses and other livestock. Facilities that house evacuated animals are asked to maintain records of any animals they take in...

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29 May

New animal anti-cruelty legislation signed into law, takes effect June 11, 2020

wsvma   |   Animal Welfare, Legislative, Professional News

Governor Jay Inslee signed into law Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 6300 that added more teeth to current animal cruelty statutes. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Anne Rivers (R-La Center) and brought forward by Pasado’s Safe Haven included several amendments aimed at doing more to protect animals. Changes to Chapter RCW 16.52 animal cruelty statutes include: Only a licensed veterinarian may devocalize, ear crop or tail dock a dog. Veterinarians must use accepted veterinary surgical protocols and pain management when performing...

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29 May

Food Assistance for Pets

wsvma   |   Animal Welfare

As the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to increase the ranks of people in need of food assistance, the animals so many rely on for companionship, affection, and stress reduction need support too. WSDA is working with a collaboration of animal services in King County and a national animal-welfare organization to support a statewide pet food distribution hub and help make sure people have access to pet food. It’s an initiative that not only supports animal health, but...

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17 January

AVMF will match up to $50,000 in donations for Australian fires

wsvma   |   Animal Welfare

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Board of Directors last week approved a $25,000 donation to aid Australian veterinarians who are helping animals impacted by the bushfires ravaging their country. In addition, the AVMA is encouraging its 95,000 members and the general public to consider contributing to relief efforts by donating to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF), which will match donations up to $50,000. "People have been calling us, asking how they can help their colleagues in Australia," said Dr....

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05 April

AVMA releases its first-ever guidelines for depopulation of animals

wsvma   |   Animal Welfare

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has published its first ever Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals to help veterinarians support animal welfare in situations where the difficult decision to depopulate has been made. These new AVMA guidelines are an important tool to help veterinarians make humane decisions in the most dire situations. Because emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time, this is vital guidance for veterinarians in every field of practice – from shelter medicine to agriculture, companion animal practice,...

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15 March

Veterinarians’ assistance sought on recent massive Kitsap County rabbit rescue

wsvma   |   Animal Welfare

The Kitsap Humane Society (KHS) recently rescued 200 of the 300 rabbits found in the home of an overwhelmed Poulsbo, WA resident. Some rabbits were found living in cages and some roamed free. They range in age from newborns to five years, and include a variety of breeds such as Rexs, Lionheads, Netherland Dwarfs, Angoras, French Satins, Holland Lops, Harlequins and New Zealand mixes. Most of the bunnies are sociable and in good health, although 45 of them required specialized...

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01 February

WSU’s Guy Palmer awarded AAVMC’s Excellence in Research Award

wsvma   |   Animal Welfare

The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) has named Dr. Guy Palmer from the Washington State University (WSU) College of Veterinary Medicine as the recipient of the 2019 AAVMC Excellence in Research Award. "The AAVMC is proud to recognize outstanding educators and researchers like Dr. Palmer who elevate academic veterinary medicine and inspire others through their commitment to professional excellence and service,” said AAVMC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Andrew T. Maccabe. “We look forward to publicly honoring him for his...

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