February 2006 - Toronto Academy of Veterinary Medicine

TheScalpel
TorontoAcademy of Veterinary Medicine Newsletter
5$
Volume 21, #1 February 2006
Annual General Meeting
Tuesday, Feb 7, 2006
5:00pm to 7:30pm
Sheraton Parkway Hotel
600 Highway 7 East
Richmond Hill, Ontario
The AGM is ONE WEEK EARLY
this year to avoid Valentine’s Day.
Be sure to tell hospital personnel
that their lecture is also one week
early.
We also want to pass some new
bylaws. A copy accompanies this
newsletter. We’re updating and
simplifying the bylaws to better
reflect TAVM’s actual practices.
TAVM Executive will conduct the
AGM between the afternoon and
evening sessions of the Subscription Series lecture.
We invite and encourage all
TAVM members to attend.
The annual membership fee for
2006 is $440, including lecture
notes. GST is an extra $30.80
NOTE:
AGM dinner is RSVP only.
When you call to confirm, please
let us know of any dietary
requirements you may have.
Reserve by calling the TAVM
office at 416-494-1440, x228.
Hemingway wrote about it, the 80’s band, TOTO, sang about it, and now Toronto vets
are climbing it! The magnificent Mt. Kilimanjaro rises 5895 metres above the
Serengeti plain. This snow-capped volcano is not yet extinct, so climbing it can be a
challenge in more ways than one. Come to the AGM to see and hear Dr. Debbie
James recount her tale of high adventure as she climbs Africa’s highest peak to
raise money for HIV/AIDS.
Notice to TAVM Members
The Board has revised our bylaws. These bylaws have not been
revised in a long time and no longer reflect current practices. The
bylaws can only be changed at the Annual General Meeting.
Enclosed with this newsletter is a copy of the bylaws, with the
proposed changes. Please read them over, and bring your comments to the AGM.
If you cannot attend, send your comments to the office by email
([email protected]) or fax 416-495-8723.
February 2006 Page 1
Both companies have been clients for
around 2 years. The level of service
they receive from CVS is no different
than that for a vet clinic. That means
they get the same time frame for
cremation, pickup, etc. as vets get.
Editorial
Cheap shots at
vets leave us cold
Ever wonder what all those
cutbacks at the National Post did
to quality reporting? Read on to
find out.
Talk about a lousy way to end the
year: reading a softy-toffee, zero-factchecked article about two new-age
types who badmouth our profession
with inaccuracies to generate some
positive spin for their own businesses.
Page TO22 of the December 31,
2005 National Post profiles two
companies that will “transport a dead/
euthanized animal, arrange for private
cremation, supply an urn, offer grief
support and even, if asked, deliver a
eulogy.” Helen Hobbs, the owner of
Pets at Peace, says many pet owners
are simply looking for an “alternative
to the uncertainty they feel after
leaving an animal at the vets for
cremation following euthanasia.” And
Shelley Blechman, of Pet Heaven,
feels that owners have become increasingly leery of veterinarians’
disposal methods.”
Well, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist
to pick up on those ladies’ insinuations.
Have we not put to rest those horrible
and wholly unsubstantiated rumors
promulgated by that retired bookkeeper, Ann Martin? Her 1998 fantasy
pamphlet, Foods Pets Die For, got
national TV and print coverage with
her allegations of vets doing all manner
of devilish deeds with euthanized pets.
We did ourselves no favour by remaining quiet while she basked in media
attention, even after she admitted to
having no concrete proof of her book’s
Page 2 February 2006
claims. But by then, the damage had
been done. It was “too late” on the
media relevance timeline for retraction. And no media types expressed
interest in either checking her facts or
of hearing our rebuttals. I’m sorry that
we vets did not spend money on our
own media campaign to expose Ms.
Martin’s allegations for what they are.
Whoever said that truth will always
prevail has never had to counter a
good spin-doctor campaign.
This Post article was inaccurate, if
not unfair. I was determined to prove
it. Many points in the article were not
that hard to check. Vets are a tight
community. I know of only two local
crematoria that deal with animals. So
on a hunch I phoned up Dr. Don
Roden, one of the owners of Canadian
Veterinary Services (CVS), then faxed
him the article. Dr. Roden read the
article several times and also showed it
to his staff to solicit their input. We
talked again later.
Here are some facts I got by speaking directly to the person who runs the
cremation service for these two
companies. This is important, because
only that person can substantiate their
claims about service and turnaround
time. This is a point the article writer
didn’t bother checking.
CVS provides services to both
companies mentioned in the article.
Dr. Roden notes a difference: one
company brings the animal directly to
CVS, then picks up the urn. The other
company has CVS provide body
pickup from a designated location.
CVS charges the same price whether
or not you bring the body to them.
Pickup is a non-chargeable service,
and CVS will make a pickup any time
you call them. So Ms. Blechman’s
allegation that “animals are bagged and
stacked in a freezer until there are
enough bodies to warrant the vet clinic
paying for the crematorium’s truck to
stop by” is patently false.
Another point: CVS strives for a
return of ashes in five days for all
clients. That’s five days for all clients.
Ms. Blechman, of Pet Heaven, claims
that for her clients, “the ashes are
returned within a day or two.” This
claim may be suspect.
And if a pet comes in with a favorite
toy or some other object to be cremated, then CVS will most definitely
cremate it with the animal. It doesn’t
matter if the object comes from a vet
clinic or these companies.
Let’s talk about that baby-blue
blanket mentioned in the article. Ms.
Blechman says that at Pet Heaven
each animal is “lovingly wrapped in a
baby-blue blanket, placed on a
stretcher and taken directly to be
cremated.” Dr. Roden only recalls
seeing the baby-blue blanket once.
And it is wholly unreasonable to
expect an animal that is euthanized at
9 or 10pm to be cremated immediately.
However temporarily it may be, that
animal is being stored somewhere, in a
bag, in a freezer, and probably on top
of another euthanized pet, until CVS
Article continues on page 4
February 2006 Page 3
Cheap...cont’d from page 2
can process the animal. And that
situation is not what these companies
claim happens.
Dr. Roden estimates that these two
companies make up about 1% of his
business; vets make up the other 99%.
He does think that this 1% involves
more “special requests” such as
viewing and visitation. Vet clinics
rarely request these, compared with
these two companies. But these
services are not restricted to clients of
these companies. Any vet clinic can
phone, and CVS will do its best to
meet your needs for the situation,
whether the client needs a quick
return of the ashes due to personal or
religious needs, or wants a viewing,
visitation, or attending the cremation.
So where do vets stand vis à vis
these two companies when it comes to
providing caring service for clients and
euthanized pets. Here’s what I’ll say
to anyone mentioning this Post-consumer waste article: Our clinic staff
know you and your pet. Surely, we can
be more sympathetic at the end of
your pet’s life than a complete
stranger. We can do a housecall at
your convenience. We can euthanize
your pet, transport it, and store it
temporarily until it is picked up
promptly by CVS. We can arrange
viewing and visitation at CVS or at our
clinic (which we have done on many
occasions). Yes, we can arrange
private cremations. Our turnaround
time is the same as those other guys.
And you have a choice of urns. And
we always send a sympathy card that
is personally signed by each staff
member. Shouldn’t we be telling our
clients that we can match and even
exceed what these companies are
offering? Yes! Crikey, let’s at least tell
our clients something.
Dr. Roden is not impressed with the
article’s level of reporting accuracy.
Neither is Dr. Jonathon Mitelman of
the Kingston Road Animal Hospital.
Page 4 February 2006
The article claims he confirms Ms.
Blechman’s assessment. Dr. Mitelman
says he wasn’t misquoted, but his
sentence was shortened, with much of
what he said omitted. Why didn’t the
writer include that Dr. Mitelman had
said, “the clinic (Kingston Road) offers
many other services for the client,
such as housecalls, euthanasia, grief
counseling, and private cremation”?.
When Dr. Mitelman said, “there are
economics involved”, he meant that
the euthanised pet might not be taken
to the crematorium that very next day,
as these companies claim to offer. It’s
ironic to note that CVS will actually
pick up an animal at a clinic the next
day, if called, just as they do for these
two companies. The writer could have
verified that fact by calling CVS, but
the truth of it would not have advanced
the bias of his article. Dr. Mitelman is
upset with the presentation of his
quotes, as they were tailored to make
the vets look cold and unfeeling. This
was not his intent.
I can sympathize with Dr. Mitelman’s
position. It is often difficult to condense answers to media questions into
a sentence so short that it won’t be
chopped or rearranged to deliver an
unintended meaning. This experience
has made Dr. Mitelman more wary of
future requests for professional opinions.
Dr. Roden says that we vets need to
let our clients know about the services
that CVS provides. He said Dr.
Mitelman provided correct information
about pickups sometimes being infrequent, but he emphasizes that vets
need not wait for a clinic’s freezer to
be full before calling CVS for a private
cremation. Of course, at CVS, the
bodies are stored in a morgue until it is
their turn to be cremated.
Another point omitted by the writer
materially changes a reader’s understanding of the article. These two
companies deal mostly with mobile
vets who provide euthanasia services.
Of course, the ladies come to your
home and have the animal picked up
there: that’s where the euthanasia is
being done. And what’s the big deal in
them providing evening service? In my
experience, that’s when a lot of
housecall euthanasias are done. What
they offer isn’t special at all.
My main complaint is the article’s
tone. The writer was trying to compare the allegedly superior, touchyfeely service these ladies provide with
the cold, business-like manner in which
vets approach the same situation. The
writer succeeded by omitting facts in
the story. It is yet another failure of the
media to provide fair and balanced
writing. But I guess in an age when
science-shunning artsy reporters
delude themselves into believing they
can write about any topic, what should
we expect? I just think it’s unfortunate
that we have to be afraid of the media.
We could use them to educate the
public with real information about
animals and veterinary medicine.
On the positive side, this has been a
learning experience for Dr. Roden. He
said he has read the article with an eye
on how he might improve or expand
his services to veterinarians. Stay
tuned for an update.
Has somebody painted a target on
our lab smocks? We can’t just do
nothing when articles full of half-truths,
misquotes, innuendo, and unchecked
facts appear in the media. Our professional reputations are at stake. It’s
time to kick a bit of new age butt with
facts and truth. I’d like to see a
pamphlet available in vet clinics,
perhaps produced jointly by vets and
CVS, that explains exactly what
happens to euthanized pets between
the clinic euthanasia and the crematorium. It could also list services we
don’t usually mention to clients, but
would be glad to provide. We need
something to counter what’s being
said about us.
2006 AGM
EVENING AGENDA
Greetings & Introductions (5:10 pm)
Dr. Holley to introduce invited guests
Dinner is served (5:20 pm)
Keynote speaker: Dr. Debbie James
AGM (6:45 pm)
AGM AGENDA
1
Call to order
8.
Election of 2005 Officers and Directors
• Dr. Holley
2.
Approval of Minutes of Feb 8, 2005
Annual General Meeting
• Dr. Holley
9.
Other Business
• Dr. Holley
10.
Adjournment
• Dr. Holley
3.
4.
Treasurer’s Report
• Dr. Day
Approval of audited financial statements,
year ending November 30, 2005
ADVANCE EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS
Appointment of auditor, Jack Crieger, C.A.
for Financial year December 1, 2005
to November 30, 2006.
OFFICERS
Dr. Clayton MacKay, President
Dr. Jennifer Day, Vice-President
Dr. Bill Holley, Past-President
Dr. Carol Cameron, Treasurer
Dr. Heather Hannah, Secretary
New & Current Business
• tba
5.
Secretary’s Report
• Dr. Hannah
6.
Committee Reports
• tba
7.
President’s Report
• Dr. Holley
DIRECTORS
Dr. Alexandra Bratton
Dr. Robert Clement
Dr. Jaclyn Goldman
Dr. Michael Goldstein
Dr. Nasim Gulamhusein
Dr. Davod Kafai
Dr. Ehab Malik
Dr. Bryan Yearwood
Dr. Edith Yearwood
February 2006 Page 5
Toronto Academy of Veterinary Medicine
2005 Annual General Meeting
5:00 pm, Tuesday, February 8, 2005
1. Call to Order
Dr. William Holley, President of
TAVM for the year 2004 called the
meeting to order at 6:50pm with
approximately 115 members in
attendance.
Dr. Holley announced that a quorum
was present.
MOTION: That the agenda be
approved as circulated.
PROPOSED: Dr. Clayton MacKay
SECONDED: Dr. Jennifer Day
MOTION CARRIED
2. Approval of Minutes of February 10th, 2004 AGM
MOTION: That the 2004 AGM
minutes be approved as circulated.
PROPOSED: Dr. Heather Hannah
SECONDED: Dr. Bianca Bauer
MOTION CARRIED
3.Treasurer’s Report
Dr. Smith reported on Financial
Status of TAVM
This year the TAVM achieved a
tremendous comeback from last
year’s deficit of $17,000 to a profit of
$900 in 2004. The elimination of the
clinic membership helped put the
TAVM’s financial health back on
track by increasing revenue brought in
from the Subscription Series. Membership levels remained stable despite
the change back to individual memberships. The introduction of the new
seminar schedule and format may
have been largely responsible for the
stability. Revenue also increased from
newsletter advertising and from
sponsorship dollars.
Page 6 February 2006
In 2004, the TAVM added the
Toronto Zoo day which was not only
enjoyable for everyone who attended;
it also raised $1,200 for the Toronto
Zoo Foundation. The 2004 statement
reflects revenues and expenses for the
Zoo Day as well as a new line item
for Donations.
Expense amounts remained relatively
stable in 2004. Increases in office
expenses can be attributed to general
cost of living increases and more
regular updating of the website. The
cost of publishing the newsletter has
gone up slightly as well.
Overall, the financial health is looking
good as we move into 2005. Our
cash flow is better due to early
payment by this year’s sponsors and
a steady flow of membership renewals and applications. We already have
over 100 members for 2005! By the
end of this year, the board hopes to
begin rebuilding the amount that was
withdrawn from savings to cover the
losses in 2003.
MOTION:
To approve the audited financial
statements, year ending November
30, 2004
PROPOSED:
Dr. Edith Yearwood
SECONDED: Dr. Clayton MacKay
MOTION CARRIED
MOTION:
To appoint auditor Jack Criger C.A.
for financial year December 1, 2004
to November 30, 2005.
PROPOSED:
Dr. Brian Yearwood
SECONDED: Dr. Gary Landsberg
MOTION CARRIED
4.Secretary’s Report
Dr. Heather Hannah presented the
Secretary’s Report.
The Secretary reported that The
Scalpel is a well-read and valued
publication, as evidenced by the
number of advertisers that are interested in printing in the newsletter. The
Scalpel always welcomes new article
ideas and contributors. Specifically,
the Secretary called for member/
colleague profiles or nominations for
profiles, travel stories, and letters to
the editor.
MOTION:
That the secretary’s report be accepted as given.
PROPOSED:
Dr. Carol Cameron
SECONDED: Dr. Danielle
Richardson
MOTION CARRIED
5.President’s Report
Dr. William Holley reported on the
status of the TAVM.
The Toronto Academy of Veterinary
Medicine had a very successful year
in 2004. We had excellent speakers
and had a successful Zoo Day, which
we hope will be the first of many
enjoyable social activities. The board
would also like to report that Dr.
Doreen Houston generously asked
that her honorarium be donated to
charity.
Membership for the Subscription
Series was relatively stable in 2004,
however, the Hospital Series dropped
from 135 members in 2003 to 116 in
2004. Veterinarians are reminded of
this valuable seminar series that
provides valuable information and CE
credits to hospital personnel. The
board has agreed that more effort
must be made to promote this series.
Members may have noted that the
fees have increased this year. This is
to reflect the value that TAVM
Members are receiving and also to
improve our financial position. The
fees asked by a few potential speakers this year exceeded what the
Academy could afford to pay. The
Board also considered the small
amount that revenue exceeded expenses in 2004 ($900). Finally, the
board hopes that with the new pricing
scheme, larger rooms and better
amenities can become a financial
reality.
On a sad note, Tom Kalm and Dave
Steves have passed away this year.
Our condolences go out to their
families.
Thank you to Bianca Bauer, assisted
by Danielle Richardson and Laura
Whiting for taking the lead in finding
an excellent group of speakers for
2005.Thank you also to Edith and
Brian Yearwood for their work in
finding seminar sponsors, to Jennifer
Day for serving as a liaison with the
OVMA, to Katrina Smith for keeping
finances in the black this year, and to
Heather Hannah for preparing and
editing our monthly newsletter. The
board regrets that Katrina Smith and
Laura Whiting will not be serving on
the Board in 2005. Their contributions in 2004 were considerable. The
board welcomes new Board members Danielle Richardson and
Stephanie Partridge. Members are
also reminded that they may assist the
Board by serving on committees. This
would not require a great deal of time
and would ensure better communication between members and the
Board. Several new volunteers are in
attendance tonight.
MOTION:
That the president’s report be accepted as given.
PROPOSED: Dr. Bianca Bauer
SECONDED: Dr. Petra Burgmann
MOTION CARRIED
6. Election of Officers & Directors
for 2005
MOTION: That the slate of Officers
and Directors be accepted as per the
following list.
OFFICERS:
Dr. William Holley, President
Dr. Clayton MacKay, Vice-president
Dr. Jennifer Day, Past President &
Treasurer
Dr. Heather Hannah, Secretary
DIRECTORS:
Dr. Bianca Bauer
Dr. Carol Cameron
Stephanie Partridge
Dr. Danielle Richardson
Dr. Bryan Yearwood
Dr. Edith Yearwood
PROPOSED: Dr. Jane Berg
SECONDED: Dr. Andrea Chapin
MOTION CARRIED
7. Other Business
Dr. William Holley asked the membership if there were any other issues
from the floor but none were raised.
8. Adjournment
MOTION: That the meeting be
adjourned
PROPOSED: Dr. Edith Yearwood
SECONDED: Dr. Carol Cameron
MOTION CARRIED
Meeting adjourned at 7:10pm.
Call for Nominations
The Executive Council for 2006 will be determined at this year’s
Annual General Meeting on February 7TH, 2006. All voting members of the
TAVM are eligible to fill a position on the Executive.
You should consider serving on the Executive Committee.
Come to the AGM on February 7TH, 2006 to exercise your right to vote.
February 2006 Page 7
Board Reports
President
The Toronto Academy of Veterinary Medicine had a very
successful year in 2005. Judging by the results of the surveys
conducted at each session, members were satisfied with the
venue, food, quality of speakers and information provided.
In 2005 the Membership consisted of 195 veterinarians and 122
hospital personnel. Membership changed little from the previous
year. Once again I encourage each member to promote the
Academy and attract new members. New members bring fresh
ideas to the table and will help the association grow.
The Website is becoming an essential tool in relaying information about the programs offered by the Academy. Members are
using the site more and more.
After many years, the By-laws of the Academy have been
updated. I ask you to consider the changes carefully; they can be
amended at the AGM.
I want to thank all of the Board members for their efforts in
making 2005 a success. Alex Bratton proved to be a valuable
addition to the group.
Relations with other Veterinary Associations
Jennifer Day served as an excellent liaison person with the
OVMA. On behalf of the Academy I want to thank the OVMA for
its assistance in promoting the programs offered by the Academy.
The arrangement with the Georgian Bay Veterinary Association
has proven to be beneficial to both organizations.
Social Event
The day at the Zoo was a social success. I apologize that more
people could not have been accommodated. Over $1000 was
donated to the Toronto Zoo Foundation.
The Scalpel
The efforts of Heather Hannah must be applauded in preparing
and editing our monthly Newsletter, an excellent communication
package. Heather welcomes any articles from members.
Base Consulting
Kylie Braukmann our management consultant at Base was most
helpful in making 2005 success. Our thanks to her and her associates.
Sponsorships
Edith and Bryan Yearwood cannot be thanked enough for the
work they did in finding sponsors for the various sessions. Their
efforts subsidize the cost of membership.
Bill Holley, DVM
Treasurer
This year the TAVM was able go a long way in recouping the
losses suffered in 2003 by earning a profit of $14,600 as compared
to $900 in 2004. The increase in revenues from Subscription Series
dues due to the increase in fees made a significant impact on the
bottom line. Additional revenues were realized from Hospital
Personnel memberships. New partnerships with various other
veterinary associations also resulted in some recovery of speaker
costs and is noted in the financial statements as a new line item
“VETS Association”.
Most expense amounts remained relatively stable in 2005. The
increased revenues experienced are directly proportionate to the
bank charges. Courier charges went up in response to higher gas
prices and postage charges were increased by Canada Post.
Photocopy charges increased as a result of the new surveys
being taken at each seminar. Fax charges also went up due to the
new monthly faxed advertisements aimed at increasing membership and walk-on attendance. Speaker gifts were purchased to
restore our stock. Finally, website expenses increased to ensure
the website is a valuable and up to date.
Overall, TAVM’s financial health is improved as we move into
2006. Through appropriate projections and diligent cost control,
the TAVM has achieved a profit that closely matches the budgeted amount. Now that much of our savings have been recouped,
we are looking to a much more break-even budget.
Jennifer Day, DVM
Sponsorship
We were able to get full sponsorship for all of the Subscription
and Hospital personnel series lectures. Our job was made easy
because of the great list of topics for the 2006 year, all of which
were met with great enthusiasm and support from our company
sponsors. Once again we would like to take this opportunity to
thank our sponsors, their support goes a long way in making the
lecture series possible. Also, we would like to urge all of our
members to, when possible, remember the companies who help
make our lecture series possible and don’t forget to visit their
presentation booths during the intermissions.
Bryan Yearwood, DVM
Edith Yearwood, DVM
Secretary
I hope I’ve been able to entertain and inform our members over
the past year. New challenges to our profession continue to pop
up. TAVM’s members should be there to identify them and
respond to them. When you see something, you know who to
call.
Heather Hannah, DVM
Page 8 February 2006
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Continuing Education
Subscription Series
A MIXER OF
VETERINARY TOPICS
Mississauga Oakville
Veterinary Emergency Hospital
and Referral Group
NOTE LECTURE
DATE CHANGES
Please see next page
for lecturer biography
and topic details.
Tuesday, FEB 7, 2006
2:00 – 5:00 PM & 7:30 – 9:00 PM
Sheraton Parkway Hotel
600 Highway 7 East
(at Leslie Street)
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Tel: 905-881-2121
These three lectures have been brought to you by:
Dr. Michael Zigler
Glaucoma in Small Animal
Practice
Dr. Sandra Minors
Feline Myocardial Diseases
Dr. Isabelle Aubert
Immunosuppressive Therapy
Read our lecturers’ complete
bios online at www.tavm.org
Hospital Personnel Series
Wednesday, FEB 8, 2006
Dentistr y:
What’s New, What’s Not
Sharon French, DVM, FAVD
VEC and Referral Centre
7:30 – 10:30 PM
Holiday Inn Yorkdale
3450 Dufferin Street
Toronto, Ontario
Tel: 416-789-5161
About the Lecture....
Veterinary professionals are no longer
the only source of advice, products, or
treatment for dentistry. Consumers can
now find a wide array of homecare products in clinics, pet stores, and online.
Successful homecare programs require a
good basic knowledge of all products —
what works, what doesn’t, and what may
have adverse effects.
A successful homecare program solidifies the client relationship. For the client to
have “homecare success”, you should
tailor the program to the individual client
and pet by asking specific questions and
considering certain factors. We’ll discuss
the questions you should ask and what
products you can use.
Feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions
continue to be a problem in our feline
patients. There have been some new
developments and a new classification
system to consider. We’ll review the
current theory of pathophysiology and
discuss treatment options.
Stomatitis in both our feline and canine
patients remains among the most difficult
and frustrating cases to manage. We’ll
learn a step by step approach to these
problems and discuss some new treatment
modalities.
About the Speaker...
• DVM, OVC, 1985
• Fellow of the Academy of
Veterinary Dentistry since 1996
• Staff veterinary dentist at the VEC
and Referral Centre since 2000
• Veterinary Dentist for the Metro
Toronto Zoo since 1992
This lecture has been
brought to you by:
February 2006 Page 11
Speakers for A Mixer of Veterinary Topics
Michael Zigler, DVM, CertVOphthal
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B.Sc., University of Guelph, 1975
DVM, Ontario Veterinary College, 1979
Ophthalmology Residency, 1990-91
Certificate in Veterinary Ophthalmology (CertVOphthal), Royal
College of Veterinary Surgeons, UK, 1993
Current professional activities include Eyevet Consulting
Services, Oakville, Ontario, and serving on the Adjunct faculty,
Ontario Veterinary College
Past President of the Canadian Association of Veterinary
Ophthalmology, and the American Society of Veterinary
Ophthalmology
Married to Barbara Lupu-Zigler, a nurse practitioner, in 1990.
Along with their 12-year-old daughter, Melissa Ann, they
share Abigail, the Springer Spaniel, Mikko, the Budgie, Sunny,
the cockatiel, and Maple, the clinic cat
Glaucoma in Small Animal Practice
I will cover the topic pretty broadly including anatomy &
pathophysiology, clinical signs, diagnosis, medical treatment and surgical treatment.
Highlighted areas will be proper techniques for doing
tonometry, differentiating primary from secondary glaucoma, and the surgery section will highlight the newest
technology in glaucoma treatment - endoscopic
cyclophotocoagulation.
Sandra Minors, DVM, DVSc, Dip. ACVIM
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DVM, OVC, 1987
Associate in small animal practice for two years
Internship, small animal medicine and surgery, OVC
Residency in cardiology, OVC
Doctor of Veterinary Science, and Masters degree,
OVC, 1995
Board-certified, American College of Internal Medicine,
Subspecialty of Cardiology, 1996
Referral practices at Bronte Road Animal Hospital in
Oakville, and Morningside Animal Clinic in Scarborough
Clinical cardiologist at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital,
OVC, 1999 to January 2005
Has recently joined the Veterinary Referral Group at the
Mississauga Oakville Veterinary Emergency Hospital
Has authored several published articles related to veterinary cardiology
Involved in ongoing research in therapeutic drug trials, in
particular, Vetmedin
Feline Myocardial Diseases
This session will briefly review the pathologic features of
the following types of myocardial disorders:
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Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (RCM)
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
(ARVC)
• Feline Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (FICM)
• Feline Unknown Cardiomyopathy (FUCM)
I will provide updates in the diagnosis and management of
asymptomatic and symptomatic. Do not ignore any sign of
heart disease in cats!
Isabelle Aubert, DVM, DVSc, Dip. ACVIM
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DVM, U. of Montreal, 1995
Residency small animal internal medicine, OVC, 2002
Diplomate ACVIM specialty internal medicine, 2002
DVSC “the use of vascular access ports in feline blood
donors”, U of Guelph 2003.
• Staff clinician in internal medicine, VTH, 2002-2004
• Staff clinician in internal medicine, Mississauga-Oakville
Veterinary Emergency Hospital and Referral Group
2004-2005.
• Consultations in internal medicine mobile service, 2005
until now.
Page 12 February 2006
Immunosuppressive Therapy
Immunosuppressive treatments are used to treat a wide
array of conditions in small animal medicine. The benefits
and potential side-effects associated with the most commonly used immunosuppressive drugs, strategies to initiate
remission and wean off therapy and monitoring of the
patient undergoing immunosuppressive therapy will be
discussed.
Some recent media items
concerning veterinarians,
clients, animals, and TAVM
Toronto Star, September 1, 2005,
p.B2: “Moses the cat starts a new
life after being rescued from river”
After 4 ½ months of tender loving
family care, a victim of animal cruelty
was saved from drowning through the
heroic efforts of one animal-loving
family. Ivor Oram and his wife,
Shirley, heard a cat’s cries as they
walked in the ravine behind their
North York home in April. The cries
were coming from a gym bag that was
caught on some rocks in the middle of
the Don River. Mr. Oram waded into
the frigid, 60-cm-deep water and
retrieved the bag. The cat was
unresponsive as Mr. Oram wrapped
it in his shirt and held it to his chest for
warmth. The Toronto Humane
Society treated the cat, named
Moses, with warm blankets for 24
hours. Moses then spent the next
week recovering. The Oram
household then took over his foster
care, despite already having four kids,
a German shepherd, and two cats.
The family plans to adopt Moses
eventually. A 17-year-old boy, who
cannot be named under the Youth
Criminal Justice Act, is charged with
animal cruelty. A spokesman for the
Humane Society said they investigate
about 1200 calls of animal cruelty per
year and usually lay about 40 charges.
The Globe and Mail, September 7,
2005, p.A26: “Teeny Tiny Dogs”
Michael Kesterton’s Social Studies
column reports on an AKC
spokesman from Birmingham,
Alabama who says that some people
just won’t settle for a standard toy
dog any more. Breeders are
responding to the demand for
increasingly diminutive dogs by
producing “teacup” dogs, some
weighing as little two pounds when
fully grown. This sometimes causes
health issues. Teacup dogs are more
prone to hypoglycemia, their mouths
may be too small to accommodate
their teeth, and their smaller frames
make them more vulnerable to
injuries.
Toronto Star, September 8, 2005,
p.A8: “It’s like leaving your kids
behind”
Article with photos profiles some
New Orleans residents who refused
to leave their homes because they
couldn’t take their pets. Peter Block
refused a friend’s car ride out of town
because there was no room for his
two 45-kg Great Danes. He stayed
put for about a week, then heard a
rumor about an engineer named
Carols Pavial from Baton Rouge who
had chartered a bus that was coming
to rescue pets and their owners.
About 15 pet owners gathered in
anticipation at 10:00am on North
Rampart, on the edge of the French
Quarter. There was such a bus. It
arrived late, being held up at several
checkpoints, but did arrive with a
police escort. The pet owners had to
put their dogs and cats into makeshift
cardboard kennels and cover the bus
seats and floor with plastic sheets.
Once in Baton Rouge, people were
on their own, but they had not
abandoned their pets. Thousands of
pets were stranded in New Orleans
due to insufficient space in vehicles or
rules prohibiting animals in certain
shelters. Many pet-owners believed
the disaster would last only a few
days, and thought it was okay to
leave their pets with some food and
water since they planned to return
home soon.
The Globe and Mail, September 9,
2005, p.A2: “Two orphan grizzly
cubs killed”
Grizzly bear experts who oversee
Banff National Park in Alberta are
lamenting the loss of four bears in less
than three weeks. A popular mother
bear was struck by a train three
weeks ago. Her three orphan cubs
escaped their temporary pen by
burrowing under a fence, then tried to
cross the Trans-Canada Highway
near the Mount Norquay exit. Despite
the efforts of Mounties and park
officials to slow down traffic, one
bear was struck in the westbound
lane, the other, in the eastbound lane.
Both were killed. The third cub did
not go near the roadway and is being
tracked. Their mother, known as
“No. 66”, was killed while feeding on
berries that grow along the Canadian
Pacific Rail line between Banff and
Lake Louise. Banff National Park has
a fragile ecosystem in which grizzly
bear numbers have dwindled to
between 55 and 70. The latest
article continues on next page
February 2006 Page 13
contined from previous page
accident highlights the conflict
between humans and wildlife.
Toronto Star, September 15, 2005,
p.G3: “Puppies are so adorable, but
you must be prepared”
The Star’s Homes section profiles
Puppy Proofers, a company that
promises to ease the learning curve of
acquiring a puppy by identifying
hazards and protecting homes from
teething puppies that are not
housebroken. Company founder
Nolan Lederman has had many
puppies and says that all were
destructive. People cannot watch
puppies all the time, and do not
consider how destructive puppies can
be. When owners’ property is
damaged, they may resort to
abandoning the dog at the humane
society or abusing the dog. Puppy
Proofers technicians will conduct a
room-by-room analysis of your house
to determine what help is needed—
from furniture protectors to puppy
gates—before a price is quoted. They
will advise on how to protect the legs
of tables and chairs, and how to deal
with exposed electrical wire,
electronics, baseboards, and corners.
Lederman’s idea began when a
pregnant friend talked about baby
proofing her home. Costs range from
$50 to $500, depending on the size
and number of rooms. Many of
Lederman’s clientele have been rabbit
owners who let their pets roam freely.
More information is available at
www.puppyproofers.com.
Toronto Star, September 25, 2005,
p.A4: “Dead, dying birds in east end
were poisoned, official believes”
A flock of 40 small blackbirds and
pigeons were found dead on the
grounds of the Dentonia Golf Course,
near Victoria Park Avenue and
Page 14 February 2006
Danforth Avenue. The cause of death
is unknown. The carcasses were sent
to Canadian Co-Operative Wildlife
Health Centre in Guelph for testing.
Another 10 birds were found on the
playground of Crescent Town
Elementary School, located in the
same area as the golf course. School
officials are working to ensure
children aren’t exposed to any
potentially poisonous materials. Police
are warning pet owners to avoid the
area.
Toronto Star, September 26, 2005,
p.B2: “Pitbull puppies found at
grow-op”
Acting on a tip from the public, York
Region police busted a grow-op at a
home near Woodbine Avenue and
Baseline Avenue in Georgina. Among
the over 100 marijuana plants, police
found 35 pitbull puppies. Four people
face charges. OSPCA is investigating
the dogs’ welfare.
Toronto Star, September 26, 2005,
p.B2: “Barking up the right tree in
crack war”
Joe Fiorito’s Metro Diary
relates his visit to Cawthra
Park, downtown, near
Church and Wellesley. The
park had become a
dangerous place in recent
months due to drug
addicts, dealers, and male
and female prostitutes.
People in the
neighborhood have
decided to take back the
park by showing up with
their dogs and letting them
run unleashed. The
unwanted park people
soon realized that dogs and
owners interfere with sex
and drugs in the bushes
after dark. One dog owner
with whom Mr. Fiorito
spoke says the park has improved by
75% over the past four weeks. The
project began by word of mouth, but
as many as 150 dog owners are
reported to have shown up on the
inaugural night. Most people come
out on Thursday nights, but some dog
owners come to the park whenever
they can, in order to maintain a
presence.
The Globe and Mail, September 28,
2005, p.A12: “Ursine town-crashers
get bearish reception”
Marathon, population 4,000, is a
remote town in Northwestern
Ontario. Once known for its paper
mill and gold mines, it is now better
known for its black bears. Residents
say the bear population has exploded
this year, and the bears’ behavior is
getting bolder, fuelling the debate on
how to deal with them. No one
knows why so many bears are
around. The unusually hot summer
that killed the blueberries they eat is
one factor. But all agree that it is
Article continues on next page
necessary to bring back the spring
bear hunt in Northern Ontario. This
hunt used to kill up to 5000 animals a
year until it was banned at the end of
the 1990s. Bear experts point to the
six-year bear breeding cycle and
speculate that the hunt’s ban could be
a reason for the spike in population.
Almost everyone in Marathon has a
story of being confronted by a bear.
Bears sometimes appear at the
perimeter fence of the School of the
Holy Saviour to watch the children
play. When this happens, teachers
emit blasts from the air horns they
carry, a signal alerting students to file
into their classrooms. Teachers
record all sightings on special forms,
and almost all students have taken up
the offer of a bus ride to school,
regardless of where they live.
Toronto Star, September 29, 2005,
p.A19: “Hunters poisoned by meat
from bear”
Ten French hunters who killed a
black bear during a hunting trip to
northern Quebec on August 30 have
been treated for trichinellosis
(trichinosis) as a result of eating some
of the meat on a barbecue. Two
hunters brought some of the meat
back to France, subsequently
infecting four others. Several of those
infected remain in a Paris hospital
under observation. Trichinellosis is
caused when a parasite enters the
intestinal tract through poorly cooked
meat from mammals and some
reptiles. Patients suffer diarrhea,
abdominal pain, high fever, facial
swelling, and severe muscle pain
throughout the body.
Toronto Star, September 30, 2005,
p.A3: “Pets at risk as dog flu
spreads”
Ontario vets are on the lookout for a
strain of influenza virus that can be
fatal in dogs. The virus can be traced
to the greyhound racing tracks in
Florida where it is common. Reports
of the virus are now coming from
upper New York State. Vets are
being asked to send samples from
dogs with unexplained respiratory
problems that don’t respond to
standard treatment to the OVC
animal laboratory. OVMA has issued
a communiqué to its members
warning about the disease and
advising of clinical signs, diagnosis
and possible treatments. There are no
confirmed cases in Canada. A recent
issue of Science magazine published a
study on an equine flu that jumped to
dogs, killing them in about 10% of
cases. The study also said the
presence of the disease in pets “raises
the possibility that dogs may provide
a new source for transmission of
novel influenza A viruses to humans.”
Toronto Star, October 2, 2005, p.A7:
“Activists want better life for polar
bear at Winnipeg zoo”
An Edinburgh, Scotland-based animal
rights group, Advocates for Animals
is urging Manitobans to insist that the
Assiniboine Park Zoo improve living
conditions for its lone polar bear,
Debbie. If Debbie’s living conditions
do not improve, the group may make
her the subject of an international
animal rights campaign. The 30-yearold Debbie, reputedly the world’s
oldest living polar bear in captivity, is
another example of polar bear
confinement gone wrong. Zoo staff
admit her living conditions don’t meet
provincial standards, but zoo director
Doug Ross says that Debbie, who
was born in captivity is doing better
than ever and has thrived since her
male partner died in 1999.
The Globe and Mail, October 5,
2005, p.A11: “Animals found in unfit
conditions, audit says”
The World Society for the Protection
of Animals, Canada (WSPA) has
given 80% of Ontario’s zoo exhibits a
failing grade due to a near-complete
absence of government regulations
which condemns animals to live out
their lives in cramped, unsafe cells.
The WSPA’s recent audit states,
“Ontario is the worst jurisdiction in
Canada when it comes to ensuring the
proper care of captive wildlife. The
province makes it far too easy for
residents to collect wild animals in
small cages and advertise themselves
as a zoo.” WSPA, which operates in
more than 90 countries, hired two
undercover zoo-management
specialists to check on the wellbeing
of animals at 16 facilities around the
province. The experts found that
nearly all cages they visited lacked
adequate space, soft soil, and proper
privacy. These conditions left animals
vulnerable to prying eyes and
excessive sunlight. But at least one
zookeeper who got a failing grade
disagrees. Sam Persi, of the Elmvale
Jungle Zoo, located about 20 km
west of Barrie, rebuts many of
WSPA’s findings. He says that all his
animals are breeding, so they are
happy and comfortable. WSPA has
consultative status with both the
United Nations Social and Economic
Council and the Council of Europe. It
is a registered charity that has been on
the front lines of animal protection for
more than 20 years.
The Globe and Mail, October 5,
2005, p.A10: “Big, fat rats invade
Halifax neighborhood”
Five streets in the Woodfine area of
the Halifax Regional Municipality have
been overrun with rats, reportedly as
big as cats, and who leave tunnel
holes as big as grapefruits. The rats
moved into the neighborhood shortly
after sewer line construction crews
Article continues on next page
February 2006 Page 15
Article cont’d from previous page
p.A10: “Poultry killed to curtail
avian flu”
disturbed a swampy area near an
abandoned pig farm. The rats’ loss of
habitat motivated them to seek other
accommodation. A neighborhood
representative estimates there are
hundreds of very healthy, big rats.
Residents are being advised to be
careful with their composters, not
leave their garbage curbside all night,
avoid filling bird feeders, and to keep
lower level windows closed. The city
is setting baited trap on public
property, while residents are taking
similar measures.
Turkish authorities reported their first
outbreak of avian flu on a farm near
Kiziksa, in northwest Turkey, near the
Aegean Sea. They imposed a 21-day,
3-km quarantine zone around the
affected area. About 2000 farm
turkeys died last week of the disease.
Veterinary teams donned protective
overalls to enter the area and cull the
remaining birds, then bury them in
lime-drenched pits. Authorities also
killed stray dogs and pigeons as a
precaution. Health officials in Ankara
played down this incident, saying
there was no link with the epidemic
that recently swept southeast Asia.
The Turkish newspaper, Hurriyet,
reported that up to 16,000 animals
would eventually be slaughtered, but
these could be sold if tests certified
the birds had not been infected.
Officials say the infected farm turkeys
probably contracted the disease from
migratory birds heading for a nearby
park called Bird Paradise. The
migratory birds come from Russia’s
Ural Mountains, the site of a recent
culling of 100,000 on a large industrial
farm.
Toronto Star, October 5, 2005, p.C3:
“Poison killed birds on golf course”
Tests conducted by the Canadian
Co-Operative Wildlife Health Centre
in Guelph on seven dead birds have
identified Avitrol as the substance that
killed 39 grackles (blackbirds) and
two pigeons. All the birds were found
dead on the grounds of Dentonia
Park Golf Course and the playground
of Crescent Town Elementary
School, both near Victoria Park and
Danforth Avenues. Avitrol is a
regulated poison and can only be
administered under government
supervision or by licensed pestcontrol operators. Its intended use is
to sicken just a few birds in the flock.
The sick birds’ thrashing around
scares off other birds, with a minimum
of mortality. In this case, Avitrol was
applied at too high a dosage. It killed
all the birds. Avitrol can also be
poisonous to livestock, pets, and
humans. As a possible explanation for
what happened, a spokesman for
Health Canada’s Pest Management
Regulatory Agency said even
properly licensed commercial
operators could still be using the
product incorrectly.
Toronto Star, October 10, 2005,
Page 16 February 2006
National Post, October 14, 2005,
p.A11: “Saskatchewan poacher gets
two years”
Jack McLaughlin of MacNutt,
Saskatchewan was sentenced to two
years in penitentiary and fined
$41,000 after pleading guilty to 29
wildlife-related offenses, included 15
for trafficking. McLaughlin was
involved in a large-scale poaching
operation throughout east-central
Saskatchewan. This case is the first
time an animal-trafficking convict has
received federal jail time. Poaching is
a problem in the Prairie provinces
because North America’s largest
whitetail deer are located there.
Whitetail deer antlers are coveted by
collectors and buyers, primarily in the
United States. An enforcement officer
with Saskatchewan Environment is
quoted as saying that Saskatchewan
is not immune to having certain
species rendered extinct through
illegal trafficking in wildlife.
National Post, October 14, 2005,
p.A17: “King City on alert over bats
after four detected with rabies”
York Region officials are warning
King City residents to beware of bats,
after another one tested positive for
rabies. Four cases of rabid bats have
been reported this year in the Region.
York Region’s Health Services
Department is warning people that
because bat teeth are so thin, a bat
bite would not wake you. Persons
waking up and finding a bat in their
room should assume they may have
been bitten and arrange to receive the
post-exposure vaccine as a
precaution.
Toronto Star, October 15, 2005,
p.E2: “Couple’s history of animal
abuse goes back 40 years”
The trial of Ralph and Rose Misener
began with OSPCA officers’ horrific
description of the scene that greeted
them when they responded to
complaints about a Vaughan dog
breeding operation. Officers seized
42 dogs from their farm on the
Vaughan-King Townline. Humane
Society complaints about the
Miseners and their puppy mill
operations go back to 1964. Over
that time, OSPCA seized over 600
ill-treated dogs.
The Globe and Mail, October 15,
2005, p.A27: “Take note: Pets fare
better than kids”
As part of her coverage of the trial of
Elva Bottineau and Norman Kidman,
who stand accused in the starvation
death of their 5-year-old grandson,
Jeffrey Baldwin, Ms. Blatchford
offers a half-page commentary on the
differences between adopting a pet at
the Toronto Humane Society, and
adopting a child from Children’s Aid.
Ms. Blatchford adopted a dog, Blux,
from an animal shelter north of
Toronto. Blux had been abandoned,
and had scars from several bullet
grazes on his body. Ms. Blatchford
decided that Blux had endured
enough trauma and elected to not
have him neutered. When Ms.
Blatchford approached the Toronto
Humane Society about adopting
another dog, she was flatly denied for
the sole reason of having an intact
male dog in the house already. In the
child abuse case, no fewer than three
child welfare agencies were involved
over the course of almost five
decades, and with four generations of
Bottineaus. Ms. Bottineau herself was
diagnosed at least twice as a
borderline mental defective. As a
teenage mother, she was convicted in
the death of her first child. Mr.
Kidman has been convicted of two
counts of assault causing bodily harm
on Ms. Bottineau’s children by a
previous relationship. Records
introduced at their joint trial reveal
that the Catholic Children’s Aid
Society of Toronto had all this
information in their files. Not only did
they hand over four grandchildren to
Ms. Bottineau, but they also used her
as a daycare provider of other
children.
Toronto Star, October 17, 2005,
p.B2: “Who owns this ‘beast of
prey’?”
Perhaps as a result of much stiffer
penalties under the Dog Owner’s
Liability Act, no one has claimed
ownership of an off-leash Rottweiler
that attacked 74-year-old Eve Fishell
and her three Kerry blue terrier show
dogs. The attack, which occurred on
O’Connor Drive, near Woodbine
Avenue, was so vicious that it
stopped traffic and prompted eleven
911 calls from witnesses. The
Rottweiler, cornered later that
morning, is now in the custody of
Toronto Animal Services and faces an
almost certain death sentence.
Toronto Animal Services have an idea
of who the owner may be, but no
proof. The investigation continues.
Eletta Purdy, city wide manager of
TAS, says it is too early to know if
the stiffer penalties will lead to more
owners disowning their dogs. But
even if the owner does not come
forward and the dog is euthanized, the
owner can still be held liable. The
Rottweiler had no microchip, no
tattoo and no collar.
The Globe and Mail, October 21,
2005, p.A21: “Pooches can help
bring unwanted pounds to heel”
Paul Taylor’s Small Doses column on
the Globe’s Health / Cancer / Fitness
page extols the virtues of dog
ownership as an effective way to lose
weight. A University of MissouriColumbia study found that people
who started walking a dog on a
regular basis lost an average of 14
pounds in a year. These results are
comparable to the best known
weight-loss programs, according to
lead researcher Rebecca Johnson.
The researchers were looking for a
simple, low-cost way to encourage
economically-disadvantaged people
to exercise more. They found dog
walking to be a practical, inexpensive,
and appealing method.
Toronto Star, October 22, 2005,
p.A31: “Ending animal abuse”
Front line workers express their
frustration at the lack of enforcement
power in Ontario’s animal cruelty
legislation. The current legislation’s
Coming Events
January 26—29, 2006
THE ONTARIO VETERINARY
MEDICALASSOCIATION is
holding its annual conference and
trade show at the Westin Harbour
Castle Hotel in Toronto, Ontario.
The conference program will feature
concurrent sessions on bovine,
equine, small animals and public
health, practice management, and
hospital personnel.
Special registration fees for out-ofprovince delegates. For further
information, contact
Christine Neziol,
Delegate Coordinator
OntarioVeterinaryMedicalAssociation
245 Commercial Street
Milton, Ontario, L9T 2J3
toll-free telephone (800) 670-1702
toll-free fax (877) 482-5941
or e-mail: [email protected]
onus is on the OSPCA to prove
willful neglect, rather than criminal
negligence. Willful neglect is very
difficult to prove. Mike Draper, chief
investigator with OSPCA,
characterizes the Miseners as running
a “concentration camp for dogs.”
According to Mr. Draper, the
Miseners are the OSPCA’s longestterm problem, with charges of animal
cruelty going back to 1964. The
number of animals rescued by the
Society has doubled in the past five
years. OSPCA rescued 7267 animals
in 2004. The current law “allows
offenders to continue to neglect
animals and to repeat this cruelty, time
and again.” The current proposal, Bill
C-50, is the fourth version of anticruelty legislation since 1999. It
would replace Criminal Code
provisions that came into force in
Article continues on next page
February 2006 Page 17
Media Alert.. cont’d from page 13
1892. The bill has been hotly
contested by farmers, hunters, fishers,
trappers, some medical researchers,
and religious practitioners.
Toronto Star, October 25, 2005,
p.B1: “Animal abuser jailed six
months”
Justice Simon Armstrong sentenced
81-year-old Ralph Misener to six
months in jail for “neglect and cruelty”
Page 18 February 2006
involving dozens of emaciated, sick
and maltreated dogs. His wife, Rose,
65, was given 12 months house arrest
for her role in the crimes. Despite the
deplorable conditions under which the
dogs were raised, the Miseners
managed to sell as many as 3000
pups each year, mostly through pet
stores. The Miseners were also issued
a five-year ownership ban that begins
after a previous court-imposed
prohibition in three years. Justice
Armstrong said Mr. Misener’s earlier
jail terms, his lack of remorse, and an
inability to accept responsibility for his
actions led to his jail sentence.
The Globe and Mail, October 27,
2005, p.A24: “Royal cancels poultry
show, city flu fears”
Bill Duron, CEO of the Royal
Agricultural Winter Fair, has decided
to abandon the poultry competition
entirely, saying it was the responsible
thing to do. The poultry show will be
replaced with an educational centre
devoted to avian flu. No cases of
avian flu have been reported in
Canada, and the risk of contracting
avian flu from the poultry exhibition
was low, but organizers could not
anticipate whether spectator fears
would keep people from visiting the
fair. It would not have been possible
to test the 1000 competing birds at
the show. Avian flu concerns caused
an agricultural fair in Edmonton to
cancel poultry and exotic bird
participation.
The Globe and Mail, October 26,
2005, p.A3: “In Rome, you won’t be
finding Nemo in a goldfish bowl”
PETA, the animal rights group, has
bestowed upon Monica Cirinna its
International Humanitarian Award for
her animal protection work as City of
Rome councilor. The award states
that “Rome stands out for recognizing
that fish are interesting individuals who
deserve our respect and compassion
every bit as much as dogs and cats
and other animals.” Ms. Cirinna
developed a bylaw that bans spherical
fish bowls. Many fish experts say that
round bowls provide insufficient
oxygen. The bylaw also stops fish and
other animals from being given away
as prizes. In July, 2004, Italy’s
parliament passed a law setting big
fines and jail terms for people who
abandon pets. Local governments
have also added their own rules,
some rather difficult to enforce. The
northern city of Turin can now fine pet
owners up to 500 euros if they do not
walk their dogs at least three times a
week. A new Rome bylaw requires
owners to regularly exercise their
dogs and bans them from cutting their
pets’ tails for aesthetic reasons. The
bylaw also provides legal recognition
for people who furnish food for the
city’s stray cat colonies. Animal rights
groups estimate 150,000 dogs and
200,000 cats are abandoned in Italy
every year.
Techs Wanted
LOVE the challenge of
EXOTICS?
Interested in more than the
regular routine, in a friendly,
caring, cutting-edge medicine
atmosphere?
Four-vet practice in Toronto,
near Bloor West Village, specializing in exotic pets/small
animal, needs F/T AHT/RVT.
Benefits, competitive wages,
& bonus system available.
Fax résumé to 416-763-4387,
or call 416-763-4200,
or mail to
The Animal Hospital of High Park
3194 Dundas Street West
Toronto, ON
M6P 2A3.
February 2006 Page 19
Deadline
Visit us online at www.tavm.org
All the lectures, all the people, are right there at your fingertips.
Note: access to some areas might require the password supplied on your renewal receipt.
Animal Behavior
Consultants
Analysis & Resolution of
Behavior Problems
in Dogs & other Companion Animals
Specializing in Canine Aggression
Available for in-home consultation. Professional References.
Serving Toronto and surrounding areas.
For information, call:
(800) 754-3920 or (905) 344-7973
Kerry Vinson, B.A. (Psychology), Cert. in Canine Behavior Problems
Page 20 February 2006
The deadline for submissions
to the February issue of
The Scalpel is February 15.
Fax your material or ads to
Dr. Hannah at (416) 651-1412,
or e-mail to [email protected].
When e-mailing, please insert the words
“THE SCALPEL” in the subject field.
The Scalpel
The Toronto Academy of Veterinary
Medicine, a non-profit organization, is an
advocate for veterinary practitioners in
the greater Toronto area. It provides
continuing education for its members,
and promotes the veterinary profession.
The Scalpel publishes seven times a year
to provide a forum for TAVM members.
Opinions expressed in The Scalpel editorials and letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect those of the TAVM Board.
For TAVM membership information and
changes of address, please contact
Kylie Berndl Braukmann at the TAVM
office.
phone: (416) 494-1440 x228
fax: (416) 495-8723
email: [email protected]
Please direct all newsletter
correspondence and inquiries to:
The Scalpel
c/o Dr. H. Hannah
St. Clair Veterinary Facilities
779 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario M6C 1B7
Phone: (416) 654-0242
Fax: (416) 651-1412
e-mail: [email protected]