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PIJAC Releases Recommendations for Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance

The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) today unveiled an industry-wide, comprehensive set of recommendations for antibiotic stewardship and combatting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in companion animals. The announcement was made at an event PIJAC hosted during the Global Pet Expo trade show at the Orange County Convention Center.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that two million people are infected with resistant strains of bacteria and 23,000 deaths result from antibiotic resistance in the U.S. annually. Two relatively common bacteria species that have resistant strains, Campylobacter and Salmonella, are also common in pets, making responsible use of antibiotics in companion animals an important concern.

“Antibiotic resistant germs are a growing and serious health risk to both humans and animals,” said Savonne Caughey, PIJAC director of government affairs. “Last year, PIJAC committed to work with the pet care community to create best management practices to combat AMR as part of our participation in the U.S. government’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Challenge.”

The recommendations encompass a unified set of principles for all sectors of the pet care community, with an emphasis on those involved in the breeding, rearing, transport and sale of companion animals as well as those who work with products where antibiotics regularly intersect with animals. They provide expert advice and best management practices on topics including use of antibiotics, sanitation, hygiene, veterinary oversight and zoonotic disease prevention, among others.

“PIJAC is proud to have served as the pet industry’s liaison on public health issues and zoonotic disease prevention for over a decade through our memorandum of understanding with the CDC,” said PIJAC president and CEO Mike Bober. “These recommendations are another demonstration of PIJAC and the pet care community’s commitment to promoting the health and well-being of animals and humans alike.”

PIJAC piloted the guide’s development through an extensive process of gathering resources, conducting research and consulting with specialists, professionals, and others in a variety of pet care roles. The final recommendations were developed by a working group comprised of stakeholders and experts including pet care retailers, breeders, distributors, authorities in animal care, and representatives from the veterinary medicine and health communities and other trade associations.

“This is the first-ever set of recommendations for antibiotic stewardship in the pet care community. With widespread adoption, they will help inhibit the development of resistant germs and ensure healthier pets and healthier people around the world.”

— Laura “Peach” Reid, Board Chair, PIJAC

PIJAC and other organizations involved in the working group will be distributing the recommendations to their members and promoting them at pet care industry and related events throughout 2019. The document will also be available for download on the PIJAC website.

Source: PIJAC’s Antibiotic Stewardship Recommendations and Annual Award Winners

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Tesla Adds New “Dog Mode” for Pet Owners

Automaker Tesla recently released a new feature to help improve safety for pets and peace of mind for their owners.

The new feature, known as “Dog Mode,” activates climate control and displays a message on the dashboard touchscreen to alert passersby to the internal temperature and that pets inside are being cared for. In the event that the vehicle’s battery should drop below 20%, the driver will receive a notification to return to their pet to ensure their safety.

Dog Mode is currently only available for Tesla’s Model 3 — Models S and X built after August 2017 are slated to receive the feature via update at some point in the future.

While Dog Mode adds a layer of convenience for drivers who may wish to leave their pets briefly while running errands, Tesla reminds customers to consult local regulations before leaving pets unattended.

Source: Tesla releases new ‘dog mode’ for pet owners

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Amazon Becomes HABRI Supporter

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) recently announced that Amazon has become an official supporter of HABRI and its research on the human health benefits of companion animals.

“Amazon’s support for HABRI and human-animal bond research demonstrates its commitment to the values of great pet care and the importance of pets in our lives,” said Steven Feldman, Executive Director of HABRI. “Amazon helps make it easy for us to care for our pets and, in turn, our pets contribute to our health and wellness.”

Amazon customers can explore popular pet products, enjoy pet care tips, and create a profile for their pet in order to receive personalized recommendations and coupons. In addition to offering customers a wide selection of pet food, treats, toys, tech and more, Amazon has been dog-friendly since Day 1 at its Seattle headquarters where employees share their workspace with as many as 6,000 pupazonians each day.

Scientific evidence increasingly shows that pets improve humans’ heart health; alleviate depression; increase well-being; support child health and educational development; and contribute to healthy aging.

New research also shows that pet-supportive workplaces boost employee attraction, engagement and retention. When employers support pet owners, employees are more likely to feel highly connected to their company’s mission, become more fully engaged with their work and are more willing to recommend their employer to others. Additionally, employees at pet friendly workplaces are 52% more likely to report a positive working relationship with their boss and 53% more likely to report a positive working relationship with their co-workers, compared to just 14% and 19% among those in non-pet friendly environments.

“Science demonstrates that pet-inclusive work environments help boost morale and encourage a culture of healthy collaboration and teamwork. Amazon is a leading pet-friendly company, and HABRI looks forward to working together to help more employers become pet-friendly so that more people can experience the benefits of the human-animal bond at home and on the job.”

— Steven Feldman, Executive Director, HABRI

Source: Amazon sponsors Human Animal Bond Research Institute

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PetSmart Charities Contributes $2 Million Toward Development of Safe Haven Facility

PetSmart Charities recently announced that it has committed $2 million toward the development of a facility that will be used to house and care for animals seized as part of police investigations.

The facility will house the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Animal Safe Haven (MASH) Unit and will be the first of its kind in the United States. Not only will the new MASH Unit provide housing and medical care for seized animals, it will also serve as a space for the rehabilitation of nonviolent inmates through the human-animal bond. The rehabilitation program allows inmates to earn a training certificate for socializing animals in preparation for adoption. Over 660 inmates have graduated from the program to date.

The new facility will replace the MASH Unit’s previous facility, the Maricopa County’s First Avenue Jail facility. Human use of the complex was prohibited when it was decommissioned two decades ago. The new facility is being designed from the ground up with support from animal welfare experts to ensure that it will be suitable for the long-term care of animals living there.

“Our MASH program benefits animals, humans, and our community at large. Numerous studies have demonstrated the impact that the human-animal bond has on stress levels and fostering compassion. This new facility will enable us to expand MASH to include engagement and responsibility for our inmate population, including incarcerated mothers and their children, veterans, juveniles, and those with substance use disorders. Our goal is to reduce recidivism, while finding loving homes for the vulnerable animals we must lawfully care for. Ultimately, we believe this program will serve the needs of our animal population, save taxpayer dollars, and make our County an even better place to live and work. We are grateful to PetSmart Charities for its role in this innovative public-private partnership.”

— Paul Penzone, Maricopa County Sheriff

Source: PetSmart Charities Commits $2 Million to Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Animal Safe Haven Unit Facility

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Charismatic Invasive Species More Difficult to Manage

Invasive species — non-native plants and animals introduced to ecosystems outside of their own — can devastate local ecosystems. By upsetting the balance of individual regions, they can quickly explode in numbers and overwhelm native species. According to a new article from the Ecological Society of America, the worst offenders may be fueled by a particularly potent characteristic: positive public perception.

The opinion piece, published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, suggests that charismatic critters may be more difficult to manage effectively due to the public’s adoration of them. While many invasive species negatively impact humans as well as their local ecosystems, others — such as free-roaming horses — may negatively impact ecosystems without directly affecting humans in the area. If the species happens to be viewed positively among humans — perhaps due to associations with their native versions — management efforts can become very difficult very quickly. In some cases, local people may actively attempt to thwart management efforts.

“Take the ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri) for example. The pet trade has led to an established population of parakeets in Europe, far outside the species’ native range. Even though parakeets can transmit diseases to native birds, compete with them for nesting cavities, and are recognized as a crop pest, the public enjoys seeing them in parks, gardens, and homes. Introduced parakeets tend to be released in cities, but the parakeets actually exact the most damage in rural areas. But because people have grown used to them, they are likely to oppose eradication efforts that take place before the birds become an established nuisance.”

— The Ecological Society of America

While the Ecological Society of America does not offer any firm solutions to the challenges to management posed by charismatic species, they suggest that communication between wildlife managers, researchers, and the general public will likely be key.

For more information about charismatic invasive species, check out the full article in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.

Source: Why charismatic, introduced species are so difficult to manage

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Mars Petcare Announces Better Cities for Pets Certification Program

Mars Petcare recently announced the creation of a certification program that will serve as a companion to its Better Cities for Pets initiative.

The certification program, designed for city officials seeking to make their cities more pet friendly, provides evaluations based on 12 traits of pet-friendly cities. The 12 traits comprise attributes of a city’s businesses, homes, parks, and shelters. The certification program not only provides a way for cities to ensure that they are accommodating pets, but also provides a way for cities to advertise their pet-friendliness to prospective residents and businesses.

The Mars Petcare Better Cities for Pets initiative, for which the certification program is a companion, aims to improve the number and quality of pet-friendly cities across the United States. The initiative includes educational components through a collection of resources oriented toward city officials looking to improve the pet-friendliness of their cities as well as a grant program that awards funds to cities for projects that will improve their pet-friendliness.

“Cities across the country are making strides towards becoming more pet friendly, but there’s more work to be done. Through this certification, we hope to inspire more cities to take real action that leads to a better quality of life for people and pets in their communities.”

— Mark Johnson, President, Mars Petcare North America

Since its launch in 2017, Better Cities for Pets has impacted over 100 cities and provided more than $100,000 in grant funding and $1 million in pet food donations.

Source: Mars Petcare certification aims to create more welcoming world for pets

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New Actuarial Data Highlights Top Diseases Associated with Pet Obesity

According to Petfood Industry, new actuarial data suggests that the rates of pet obesity and associated diseases continue to rise in the United States.

The data, collected by Nationwide, describes the incidence rate of obesity-related diseases in cats and dogs throughout 2017.

Top obesity-related diseases, 2017

Dogs
  1. Arthritis
  2. Bladder/Urinary Tract Disease
  3. Liver Disease
  4. Low Thyroid Hormone Production
  5. Torn Knee Ligaments
  6. Diseased Disc in Spine
  7. Diabetes
  8. Chronic Kidney Disease
  9. Heart Failure
  10. High Blood Pressure
Cats
  1. Bladder/Urinary Tract Disease
  2. Chronic Kidney Disease
  3. Diabetes
  4. Asthma
  5. Liver Disease
  6. Arthritis
  7. High Blood Pressure
  8. Heart Failure
  9. Gall Bladder Disorder
  10. Immobility of Spine

For the full list of obesity-related diseases as well as additional information on the pet obesity epidemic and what veterinarians are doing to combat it, check out the full article on Petfood Industry.

Source: Infographic: Top 10 obesity diseases in dogs, cats 2017

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New Research Suggests Medical Alert Dogs Vastly Improve Quality of Life of Those with Diabetes

A new study suggests that medical alert dogs don’t just help people living with diabetes avoid hypoglycemic episodes, they also “vastly” improve their quality of life.

The research, led by a team at the University of Bristol, investigated the accuracy and reliability of medical alert dogs trained to detect hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes over the course of 12 weeks.

Medical alert dogs are trained to respond to indications of medical distress with alerting behaviors, giving the affected individual or those around them the ability to intervene. In the case of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, alert dogs are trained to detect the subtle changes in the scent of affected individuals that accompany changes in blood sugar.

The team found that while detection accuracy varied between dogs studied, overall accuracy was much higher than had been previously reported. For all out-of-range glycemic events, there was a median sensitivity of 70%. For hypoglycemia, the median sensitivity was an even higher 83%. In total, over 4,000 glycemic episodes were detected by the dogs during the 12 week period.

Curiously, one of the factors associated with a dog’s accuracy was the degree to which it had been bonded to its human partner.

“Our research shows a dog’s effectiveness is affected by the individual dog and its connection with its human partner. Since the usage of such dogs is growing, it’s important that any dogs used for these purposes are professionally trained, matched and monitored by professional organisations like Medical Detection Dogs. It’s also vital that research continues both to assess true efficacy and determine ways to optimise their performance.”

— Nicola Rooney, Faculty, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol

The results of the study have been published in PLOS One.

Source: Medical detection dogs help diabetes patients regulate insulin levels

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HABRI Awards Five Research Grants to Study Effects of Human-Animal Interaction

The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) recently announced that it had awarded grants to five projects examining the effects of human-animal interaction on human health.

The five projects that will receive HABRI grant funding focus on a wide range of topics within human-animal interaction, including the effects of human-animal interaction on the physical health of older adults, mental health of adolescents, and the quality of life of pediatric cancer patients.

“With human-animal interaction research more clearly documenting the impact of the human-animal bond on mental and physical health, it is important to support research on how companion animals can benefit vulnerable and at-risk populations. This new group of research projects is particularly exciting as two of the studies will add to existing HABRI research results on the benefits of dog walking for physical activity and the impact of therapy animal visitation on the quality of life of pediatric cancer patients. Two studies will look at mental health and preventing suicide among teenagers, a population that is often overlooked.”

— Bob Vetere, President, HABRI

Since 2010, HABRI has funded 26 research projects investigating the effects of human-animal interaction on humans and animals alike. HABRI has also supported the development of HABRI Central, a digital library for the study of human-animal interaction. In total, HABRI has contributed more than $2.75 million to funding new human-animal interaction research.

Source: Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) Funds Five New Grants

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eCommerce Drives Pet Food Sales Above $27 Billion

A new report on the state of the pet food industry suggests that eCommerce is responsible for pushing sales of dog and cat food in the United States over $27 billion in 2018.

The breakdown, included as part of Packaged Facts‘ 14th edition of Pet Food in the US, indicates that eCommerce both expanded the capacity of the pet food market in 2018 while also encroaching on sales from brick-and-mortar pet food retailers.

According to the report, pet speciality chains continue to hold the largest share of pet food sales, followed by mass market retail chains and Internet-based sales. Despite bringing up the tail-end of the list of channels, the Internet-based sales channel experienced substantial growth in 2018 and is on track to take an even greater share in 2019

Beyond the sales channel shake-up, eCommerce has indirectly added some volatility to the brand landscape as well. The emergence of Amazon‘s private label, Wag, and Chewy‘s private label, American Journey, has bumped into the shares of established brands. Both Amazon and Chewy have taken advantage of their respective sales platforms to promote their own brands. As the share of eCommerce sales increases, this effect is expected to increase.

For additional information about the effects of eCommerce’s growth in 2018, check out the full report from Packaged Facts.

Source: E-commerce helps US dog, cat food sales hit US$27 billion

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AVMA & Pet Food Institute Offer Pet Health Tips for 2019

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Pet Food Institute (PFI) have teamed up to bring you tips for maintaining your pets’ health in 2019.

The tips take some of the more recent issues in pet health — such as the pet obesity epidemic — into consideration, as well as some of the latest advancements in pet nutrition and health.

  • Limit treats to no more than 10% of your pet’s daily caloric intake
  • Invest in slow feeder bowls to reduce overall calorie consumption while also providing enrichment
  • Separate eating areas to prevent one dog or cat from consuming food meant for another
  • Seek out complete and balanced sources of nutrition
  • Be mindful of what activities do (and do not) interest your pets and engage them accordingly

“Just like humans, overweight dogs and cats are more likely to get diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, skin conditions, liver disease and joint problems. Starting a diet and exercise regimen for both you and your pet in 2019 will result in improved health and perhaps a longer life for both of you.”

— John de Jong President, AVMA

As with any modification to your pets’ dietary or fitness routines, always consult a veterinarian before adopting any changes.

For more health tips for the new year, check out the full article on Petfood Industry.

Source: How to keep pets healthy in 2019

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Whippet Takes Home Best In Show at AKC National Championship

At this year’s American Kennel Club (AKC) National Championship, the real winner was… Whiskey.

The Whippet, Pinnacle Tennessee Whiskey — or just Whiskey, as he is known to his friends and fans — stood out among 5,000 other entries to earn Best in Show at the 2018 event. Whiskey and his handler, Justin Smithey, share the honor along with a $50,000 cash purse.

Source: Whippet “Whiskey” Wins AKC National Championship

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AVMA Takes Measures to Reduce Suicide Rate Among Veterinary Professionals

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recently announced that it would be taking measures to reduce the rate of suicide among veterinary professionals.

The announcement comes after the release of a joint, longitudinal study from the AVMA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that found that veterinary professionals are more than twice as likely to die from suicide than the general population. The results of the study, conducted over a 36-year period between 1979 and 2015, indicate that, when compared to the general population, male veterinarians are 2.1 as likely to die by suicide while female veterinarians are 3.5 times as likely.

Among the steps being taken by the AVMA to reduce the risk of suicide among veterinary practitioners is the development of new resources  to help veterinary professionals identify and support colleagues who may be at risk as well as the promotion of existing resources. One such program, known as Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Training, is designed to help individuals identify signs that someone may be contemplating suicide and to help them initiate a dialogue that can then be used to refer that person to a qualified mental health professional. The one-hour QPR Training is currently available, free of charge, to all AVMA members.

“Too many of our colleagues have either contemplated, attempted or died by suicide. And one suicide, is clearly too many. Working with our colleagues throughout the veterinary community will help us find solutions more quickly. This issue is affecting not only our profession, but society as a whole, in numbers greater than ever before.”

— John de Jong, President, AVMA

For more information about the steps the AVMA’s is taking to combat suicide among veterinary professionals, read the full story.

Source: AVMA Combating Suicide Amongst Veterinary Professionals

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New Study Suggests Overweight Dogs Live Shorter Lives

A new study suggests that overweight dogs are more likely to live shorter lives than those with body weights closer to ideal.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Liverpool and Mars Petcare’s Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, compared the lifespans of overweight dogs with those of dogs with ideal weights. The researchers found that overweight dogs lived an average of 2.5 years shorter than their lighter counterparts. The effects were seen across a sample of over 50,000 dogs and 12 breeds.

The results of the study come amid a pet obesity epidemic. Within the United States, more than half of domestic cats and dogs are overweight. What’s more, 20% of dogs and 30% of cats are obese.

“Owners are often unaware that their dog is overweight, and many may not realize the impact that it can have on health. What they may not know is that, if their beloved pet is too heavy, they are more likely to suffer from other problems such as joint disease, breathing issues, and certain types of cancer, as well as having a poorer quality of life. These health and wellbeing issues can significantly impact how long they live.”

— Alex German, Professor of Small Animal Medicine, University of Liverpool

The full results of the study can be found in the Journal of Veterinary Medicine.

Source: Overweight dogs may live shorter lives

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AVMA Voices Concerns About Antimicrobial Resistance at Intergovernmental Meeting

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) was recently invited by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to send a representative to the Codex Alimentarius Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance, convened by the United Nations and the World Organization for Animal Health.

The meeting, which took placed last month in Busan, South Korea, was convened to revise the Code of Practice to Minimize and Contain Antimicrobial Resistance, a document which provides best practices for the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals. The AVMA was invited to provide a voice for veterinary practitioners — including its 91,000 members.

The AVMA has been a strong advocate of policies that promote antimicrobial stewardship and that combat antimicrobial resistance. Last month, it released a joint statement with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) to outline strategies for preserving the effectiveness and availability of antimicrobial drugs. The AVMA also joined the United States Centers for Disease Control‘s (CDC) Antimicrobial Resistance Challenge to fight antimicrobial resistance on a global scale.

Source: AVMA gives practitioners a voice in global meeting on antimicrobial resistance

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Passage of PAWS Act Offers Security for Pets of Domestic Abuse Survivors

Survivors of domestic abuse and their pets have new protections in place thanks to a piece of legislation tucked away in the $867 billion Farm Bill signed into law late last month.

The Pets and Women Safety (PAWS) Act was drafted to protect “victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence from emotional and psychological trauma caused by acts of violence or threats of violence against their pets” by setting aside $3 million in federal funds to cover costs associated with keeping pets at alternative housing for domestic abuse survivors.

Along with the provisioning of funds, the PAWS Act also expands the federal definition of stalking to explicitly include pets. Under the new definition, stalking now includes “conduct that causes a person to experience a reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury to his or her pet.”

“Sadly, one in four women will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives. Pets often become a member of the family, and the idea of leaving a beloved pet behind in a dangerous situation is unthinkable. By ensuring that people experiencing domestic abuse don’t have to make the decision between finding safety for themselves or staying behind to protect their pet, we can empower survivors to seek help.”

— Katherine Clark, United States Representative (D-MA)

For many domestic abuse survivors, the decision to leave dangerous living situations has been a decision between seeking safety for themselves and condemning their pets to harm or death. Many shelters for survivors of domestic abuse do not accept pets, leaving those staying there to find alternative arrangements for their pets, if any at all. Consequently, one third of domestic abuse survivors report delaying leaving their abusive situations over concerns for the welfare of their pets.

With the PAWS Act now signed into law, survivors of domestic abuse and their pets will have more protections in place and more options available when it comes to finding safe places to stay.

Source: PAWS Act pulls pets of domestic violence victims into the safety net

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Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation’s Pets and Vets Program Receives Purina Support

Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) announced that it recently received a $25,000 donation from Purina to support its Pets and Vets program.

The Pets and Vets program trains rescue dogs to become service animals that are then provided to qualifying veterans. Rescued dogs who enter the program are provided with training for obedience, public access, and to perform specific tasks. Veterans who are paired with dogs through the program receive the dog at no expense.

Purina’s contribution to the Pets and Vets program was made possible through Purina’s #DogThanking campaign, which ran concurrently with the National Dog Show and Thanksgiving. During the campaign, Purina donated one dollar for every pet owners who posted to social media using the #DogThanking hashtag and who tagged @Purina.

“The #DogThanking campaign was an engaging way for pet lovers to thank the pets that make our lives so special while making a difference in the lives of many veterans and shelter dogs. We are grateful to Purina for selecting us as their partner to raise awareness and funds for this unique program. This donation helps us rescue more dogs and serve more veterans living with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries and other challenges – truly saving lives at both ends of the leash.”

— Tony La Russa, Co-founder, Animal Rescue Foundation

Source: Tony La Russa’s ARF Receives Purina Donation to Support Pets and Vets Program

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Petco Partners with Express Scripts to Launch Pet Medicine Delivery Service

Petco and Express Scripts recently announced a new partnership that allows pet owners to order their pets’ medications over the Internet and have them delivered directly to their homes.

Under the new alliance, Petco has launched Petco Pharmacy, a new online service for ordering over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription pet medications. Petco Pharmacy has been developed to take advantage of Express Scripts’ fulfillment systems to ensure that pets’ medication orders arrive quickly and accurately.

“Working with Petco is another step forward for Express Scripts in providing better care, cost and convenience to millions of Americans, many of whom are also pet parents. By combining Petco’s history, expertise and extensive reach in pet retail with our innovative home delivery capabilities, we’re transforming the pet medicine industry and making access to critical pet medicines convenient and affordable for more pet parents than ever before.”

— Wendy Barnes, Vice President & General Manager, Consumer Solutions, Express Scripts

Source: Petco and Express Scripts Team Up for Home Delivery of Pet Medicines

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Obesity May be Underreported Among Birds, Reptiles

According to the Association for Pet Obesity and Prevention, the obesity epidemic widely reported among cats and dogs may extend to other companions animals as well, including birds and reptiles.

In correspondence with Petfood Industry, Association for Pet Obesity and Prevention founder Ernie Ward stated that veterinarians suggest that instances of obesity among exotic animals may be underreported and underdiagnosed. Part of the problem, according to Ward, is that obesity assessment tools are inadequate for most exotic animals. While veterinarians have standardized tools for assessing obesity among cats and dogs, similar standards have not yet been agreed upon for birds, reptiles, and small mammals.

“We need better assessment tools and treatment regimens for avian, small mammal and reptile obesity. The first step is to standardize terminology and assessment tools, similar to what we’re doing with the Global Pet Obesity Initiative.”

— Ernie Ward, Founder, the Association for Pet Obesity and Prevention

Ward’s statements follow increased pressure for veterinarians to develop comprehensive approaches to combat obesity among pets. At a presentation given during the Future of Animal Companionship Conference last month, University of Liverpool Professor of Small Animal Medicine, Alex German, along with ConscienHealth‘s Ted Kyle made a number of recommendations for veterinarians to adopt to better address pet obesity. Among those recommendations were calls to develop better evidence-based strategies for preventing obesity, to reframe conversations between veterinarians and clients about obesity, and to formally define obesity as a disease.

Source: Small pet obesity may be underreported health threat

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ASPCA Chief Calls for Audit of USDA Dog Breeding Inspection Protocols

The president and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has called for a thorough audit of the USDA’s dog breeder inspection programs, citing weak enforcement and a lack of transparency.

In an opinion piece published in The Hill, ASPCA CEO Matt Bershadker lauded the USDA’s Office of Inspector General’s recent decision to include an audit of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in its 2019 Annual Plan. According to Bershadker, the decision to conduct an audit is a much needed step following nearly a decade of “major deficiencies” having been observed within APHIS and its enforcement of standards for commercial dog breeders.

Within the United States, animal breeders have been held to standards established by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) since 1966. The USDA’s APHIS is responsible for enforcing the welfare standards set by the AWA. However, a string of recent critical reports and high-profile incidents — including the purging of its breeder inspection database — have cast doubt about the ability of APHIS to carry out its duties. Recently reported drops in the number of disciplinary actions levied against breeders that have violated AWA standards of care have only underscored these doubts.

The ongoing lack of transparency combined with weak enforcement of the minimal standards of care required under the AWA is a tragedy for the long-suffering animals in commercial breeding facilities. A new OIG audit will not only give us more insight into the agency’s shortcomings but will hopefully spur a much-needed elevation of AWA standards of care. Since the law’s enactment over 50 years ago, those standards have too often fallen short of their promise to adequately protect vulnerable animals.

— Matt Bershadker, President & CEO, ASPCA

Source: For suffering animals, a new audit of the USDA can’t happen soon enough

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