April 2006 - Toronto Academy of Veterinary Medicine

TheScalpel
TorontoAcademy of Veterinary Medicine Newsletter
5$
Volume 22, #3 April 2006
Attention
Veterinarians
& Technicians
The April Subscription
Series lecture is entitled
Cancer Care in Your
Practice.
If you are setting up
chemotherapy in your
clinic, you may want
your technician to
accompany you to this
lecture.
TAVM allows you to
send your technician(s)
to a Subscription Series
lecture for just $75 per
person.
To sign up for this
April lecture, contact
Base Management at
416-494-1440.
If you’re like Max, above, a typical Dachshund with too much body and not
enough arm, forget that off-the-rack clothing and get something that fits
properly. Ms. Sara LoGrasso, left, and Ms. Lisa Jespersen have established
a new company, Doggy Style, to offer custom-tailored clothing for those
hard-to-dress dogs. Their mini-booth appeared at the recent All About Pets
show at the International Centre. Story and more photos begin on page 2.
April 2006 Page 1
Pet show
packs ’em in
The 13th annual All About Pets show was held March 24-26,
2006 at the International Centre in Mississauga. I attended
from 1 to 5pm on a beautiful sunny Sunday, a day when I
really should have been doing something outside to celebrate
the nice weather. I expected a small crowd at the show with
weather this nice, and that wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
Smaller, tamer crowds on the last day give me more time to
schmooze with exhibitors. So what’s with this bumper to
bumper traffic after turning on the road next to Hall #6? The
traffic snaked its way around the corner to Hall #5, then to
Hall #3, which hosted the pet show. Just how bad was the
traffic? A flashing sign told motorists to park at the nearby
GO station. That’s how much. But it wasn’t just the love of
animals drawing people to the International Centre. The Wine
& Cheese show was running concurrently. The love of booze
on a Sunday afternoon must be powerful; Sunday morning
newspaper reports panned that show for not having much
cheese to sample.
Admission is now ten bucks, but it’s still a good way to
spend an afternoon. Most of the usual suspects were at the
show: Hill’s, Royal Canin, Dogs In Canada, Pets Quarterly,
Global Ryan’s pet food, etc. I wanted to hit some new
booths, and so my first visit was to a newcomer, The Pet
Network. I don’t have cable TV, so the station’s executive
vice president, Frank Bertolas, had to explain to me that their
goal is to educate as well as entertain. The station promises
“fun and heartwarming television for the whole family”. They
intend to screen shows on pet care and information, family
entertainment, including pet cartoons, profiles on Hollywood
pets, and time-honored classic films about pets. I asked about
the vet content in all this. He promised that some programs do
feature veterinarians. Let’s hope the dog movie, Beethoven,
isn’t on their list. You can check out the Pet Network’s
website at www.mypetnetwork.tv.
Many exhibitors told me the crowds had been thick since
10am. Friday was a bit sparse, but it wasn’t the usual Good
Friday holiday. Saturday was very busy. It’s good to see lots
of enthusiasm for the pet industry. It’s what keeps us going.
Greenies had a sizeable booth, and were generating lots of
buzz with free sample packets of their popular dental treat
biscuit for dogs. Despite the poor publicity CNN has given
them, a long lineup was keeping Greenies staff busy. Part of
the reason why the line was so slow is that Greenies reps
were playing it safe by asking each and every person in line
what kind of pet they owned. If a person had a dog, they
wanted to know its weight so they could give out the proper
size treat. In case you aren’t aware, Greenies is being sued by
some dogs owners whose dog died when a large piece of
undigested biscuit reputedly caused serious internal problems.
Pet show organizers opted to restrict the noise to one area
Page 2 April 2006
Taking a cue from the poster’s slogan, this Bernese
Mountain Dog takes time out from schmoozing with
kids to sit for this photo.
by setting up one corner of the hall as a “dog breeders’
village” for the 40 or so dog breeders. This arrangement of
dogs by small, medium, and large breeds helped segregate the
types and volume of noise. Truly, a blessing on the ears.
Despite the large crowd, I was surprised to find no one at
the Doggone Crazy booth. This is the one booth that all dog
owners with children should visit. I spoke a short time later
with Joan Orr, owner of Doggone Safe, who explained that
many people had been visiting her booth, but sometimes they
got distracted by the neighboring booths hosting Greenies free
samples or rescued Dalmatian dogs. Doggone Crazy is a
board game that teaches children how to behave around dogs
to keep them safe. Doggone Safe is a non-profit organization
dedicated to dog bite prevention and victim support. Visit the
website at www.doggonesafe.com
I was pleased to be recognized by a former client who had
moved out of town, but was here to help at the boxer rescue
booth. Ms. Stav Laloudakis and her boxer, Paxton, were
doing their part to promote the welfare of these wonderful
dogs. As with all breeds susceptible to the whimsical forces
of Disney, fashion, and impulse buying, Ms. Laloudakis’
review of reasons why boxers are surrendered was all too
familiar: they were as a cute puppy, but they became too big a
dog; the owners can’t afford their care; owners got divorced;
dog doesn’t fit the lifestyle anymore; dog too boisterous for
the owner. Those same sad excuses find their way to my
clinic, too.
Vet content alert! Yes, we did have a presence here. A
A queue waits for their sample of Greenies dental
chew biscuit. The product controversy south of the
border hadn’t diminished demand for free samples.
positive one. Hill’s sponsored two vets at their Ask The Vet
booth. And a stage with chairs had been set up for lectures at
the Ask The Trainer corner. On Saturday, Dr. Gary
Landsberg, a featured speaker, presented six mini-lectures on
relevant topics such as overweight pets, common cat
behavior problems, dog behavior problems, cognitive decline
in elderly dogs, and pet food allergies’ effect on behavior.
One lecture really stood out for its relevance: How to select
the most suitable dog for your family. I hope attendance at
that lecture had been high.
Background noise level plummeted upon entering the World
Of Cats corner. This area was diagonally across the room
from dog breeders’ village, and no dogs were allowed to go in
here. I’m sure the cats were enjoying the peace and quiet as
much as I. The aisles were generously spaced, and the pace
of people had slowed down as a result. For excitement, you
could always join the large crowd of people watching Michael
Bowra judging his picks for all-breed best cat. I stopped along
one aisle to take a picture of China, a calico sphynx, who had
won a red ribbon for best cat. China belongs to Joe’anne
Inglis and Steve Patterson of Barebumz Sphynx breeders out
of Hamilton. Visit them at sphynx@sympatico.ca.
The Newtrix Pet Products booth was doing brisk business.
Dr. Robert Curran, the EasyWay collar’s inventor, was on
hand to give skeptics a chance to verify the headgear’s
effectiveness by test-walking one of two weimaraners.
Oakley, owned by Mr. Guy Guzzo, wore the EasyWay collar,
while Riker, owned by Ms. Katherine Pursall, wore just a
regular neck collar. There was no doubt that a walk with
Oakley, known for being handsome but a bad puller, was
greatly improved while he wore the EasyWay collar. The
demonstration proved sufficiently convincing that Dr. Curran
sold out of collars on all three days of the show.
No pet show would be complete without booths devoted to
fashion and accessories. There were many: dog jewelry and
clothing, froufrou stuff, as well as pet fashions for humans
such as T-shirts, socks, brooches, key chains, hats, etc.
Dr. Robert Curran poses with Oakley, one of two test
Weimaramers available at his booth to evaluate the
effectiveness of the NewTrix EasyWay collar.
One product honorable mention award goes to two young
lady entrepreneurs who decided to apply the skills acquired
during their recently completed George Brown College
fashion design course. Ms. Lisa Jespersen and Ms. Sara
LoGrasso sub-let a small section of another booth to keep
costs down for the inaugural exhibit of wares from their
newly-formed company, Doggy Style. They believe a market
exists for dog clothing that fits properly. Their survey of dog
owners has revealed dissatisfaction with standard, off-therack canine apparel. The poor fit results from lack of
sufficiently broad sizes or due to their dog’s “non-standard”
breed conformation. Max, their dachshund model, needs a
basic T-shirt but with more room in the neck and back, and
with a longer body than is currently offered by most dog
clothing manufacturers. Many bulldog owners also report that
clothing will not fit their dog properly due to its wide forearm
stance. These ladies will custom make T-shirts, terry cloth
robes, or sweatshirts for your dog, and will do fitting and
pattern alterations. Their website is not up yet, but you can
reach them at 416-455-0522.
Article continues on next page
April 2006 Page 3
contined from previous page
Scotts Canada was another first-time
show exhibitor. Already famous for
lawn care, Scotts sales rep Glenn
Martin was promoting their eco-sense
line of lawn fertilizer and pesticides to
pet owners. All products in this line are
safe for pets, and conform to the
natural ingredients list set out by City of
Toronto which now bans chemical
pesticides for lawns. Mr. Martin
emphasized that Scotts tests all these
natural products extensively for
performance and safety. He found the
show to be a great place to exhibit his
company’s products, and had received
interested inquiries from many pet
owners and gardeners as well. Mr.
Martin said just because you own a dog,
it doesn’t mean you have to give up
having a beautiful lawn.
It’s a sad day for dog lovers when a
breed as innocuous and popular as the
Golden Retriever needs a rescue
society. I got a chance to shake hands
with Max, Sunday afternoon’s guest at
the Canadian Golden Retriever Adoption
Services booth. Max is a beautiful dog,
smart and friendly. But he was bounced
around two indifferent owners before
finding a permanent home with Neil
Nichols. Neil has fostered 11 golden
retrievers, including Max, whom he
ended up adopting when Max’s original
placements did not work out. Mr.
Nichols described the application
process for those wishing to adopt a
dog, and also talked about the club’s
fundraising efforts. The group’s
statistics clearly show people are still
buying the wrong dog for their lifestyle
and family. Last year, CGRAS placed
104 Golden Retrievers. They are a
registered charity and may be contacted
at www.golden-rescue.net.
More hotels offering pet friendly
accommodations are coming to these
shows. This show let you check out
two different lodges and the Novotel
chain of hotels, of which Motel 6 is
probably the best known among budget
conscious vets. Visit them at
www.petfriendly-hotels.com . For other
types of pet friendly accommodations,
including cottages, inns, bed &
Page 4 April 2006
Max extended a warm paw to all
who visited the Canadian Golden
Retriever Adoption Services booth.
Holding Max’s leash is his owner,
Neil Nichols.
breakfasts, go to www.petfriendly.ca.
Another emerging trend at these
shows are booths connected with pet
loss. I found at least 3 companies
devoted exclusively to pet loss or
crematorium services.
In case you thought this was just a
dog and cat world, you could find a
respectably-sized section on birds and
bird fanciers, a section on reptiles, and a
section on small pets: guinea pigs,
gerbils, hamsters, rabbits and their
supplies.
Even with the lack of parking, I would
call this show a success. It had
something for everyone.
Ms. Stav Laloudakis and her boxer,
Paxton.
China, a calico sphynx, won a red
ribbon for best cat. China is held by
Joe’anne Inglis of Barebumz
Sphynx breeders, Hamilton.
Telling it lik
e it is
like
By Kerry Vinson, B.A.
The feedback I’m getting from many
of the veterinarians that I’m in regular
contact with is that they are seeing
more aggressive dogs than in the past
during clinic appointments. I myself
don’t have any empirical evidence that
there are more aggressive dogs around,
but speaking anecdotally this would
appear to be the case, at least in my
opinion.
Going on this premise being correct,
how might it affect veterinarians and the
clinics that they work in? The most
obvious answer is that vets and clinic
staff are placed in situations where there
is increased risk in handling such
animals. While I would assert that it is
incumbent upon owners to control their
dogs in all situations, this doesn’t
always appear to be the case. I have
personally seen situations, even in
waiting rooms, where an owner’s
inability to be in control of their dog has
caused pandemonium.
There are limited options in such
circumstances and the most commonly
sought solution involves putting a
muzzle on the dog so that medical
treatment can be implemented. Incredibly, I have talked to some dog owners
who blame the veterinarian for their
dog’s aggressive behaviour when in a
clinic. From the extensive experience I
have had interviewing people about their
pet’s behaviour, I have concluded that
(a) many owners of aggressive dogs
rationalize their behaviour as understandable under the circumstances, and
(b) many dog owners are in denial over
the potential of their pet to do harm to
another person or animal.
With this in mind, what do I think
veterinarians should be doing when they
encounter a potentially aggressive dog?
I realize that there are times when the
path of least resistance would be to just
try to get through the appointment in
one piece and hopefully not have to see
the animal again for a while. In the long
run I feel that this strategy can be
counterproductive. Perhaps a better
solution would be to impress upon the
client that (especially in the case of a
larger dog) they may have a very
serious problem on their hands.
Most people seem to be aware that
recent amendments to the Dog Owners
Liability Act impose restrictions on pit
bull-type dogs and penalties for not
adhering to them. However, many dog
owners may not realize that the same
sanctions may apply to any dog that can
be deemed “dangerous”. Indeed, of the
approximately 1000 dogs I have seen to
address their aggressive behaviour, only
a few have been of the pit bull variety.
Although their appearances may differ
greatly, all dogs in essence have the
same mitochondrial DNA. Therefore,
any dog of any breed can display
aggression. In fact, I have seen a
surprisingly large number of some
breeds that are not generally thought of
as aggressive dogs, such as Golden
Retrievers, Poodles, and Labrador
Retrievers.
Be aware that some clients may have
to be convinced that they have a problem dog, and may not always take this
information in stride. For example,
recently a client complained to their
veterinarian that I had offended them by
telling them that their dog’s behaviour
was among the worst that I had ever
seen. Fortunately, this veterinarian was
familiar with the accuracy of my
assessments, and gave me this feedback. While I never want to offend any
dog owner, sometimes it is necessary to
be frank when discussing canine
aggression. In examining the history of
dog attacks in many of the court cases I
have been involved in, it has become
clear to me that almost all of these
incidents could have been avoided if
someone had counseled the owners of
the dogs involved to take steps to
prevent their pets from progressing to
the level of aggression exhibited in the
biting incidents.
As most dogs involved in serious
biting episodes show signs of aggressive behaviour during the first year of
their lives, I would encourage
veterinarians to discuss this with clients
at the first inkling that there could be a
problem. The prognosis for rectifying
canine aggression is much better the
earlier that it is addressed. Unfortunately, in a lot of the cases that I deal
with, the dog has a history of exhibiting
aggressive behaviour (in some instances
has already bitten several people), and
this may reduce the chances for a
totally successful result. Hopefully, this
trend will be changing as more
veterinarians become aware of the
importance of early intervention in
successfully curbing aggression in
dogs.
In conclusion, I would emphasize that
even though it may not be the easiest
course of action in the short term, being
candid with dog owners about their
pets’ behaviour and encouraging them
to seek qualified help will produce better
outcomes in the long run for all involved.
Kerry Vinson holds a BA degree in
Psychology, and has studied
animal learning extensively. He
has completed courses in canine
behaviour at Cornell University
and Kansas State University, and
is the founder of Animal Behaviour Consultants, which addresses
behaviour problems in most companion animals.
Mr. Vinson has written numerous
published articles on the subject of
canine aggression, and gives
lectures and seminars throughout
southern Ontario on topics related
to dog behaviour. He has been
designated an Expert Witness on
canine behaviour by the Province
of Ontario. Mr. Vinson can be
reached at (905) 344-7973.
April 2006 Page 5
April 2006
ISO 9001:2000
No. 009467
Introducing
a new test for the
MERLE COAT COLOUR GENE
The merle coat colour is an autosomal
incompletely dominant coat colour trait
in dogs that has been linked to auditory
and ophthalmic abnormalities as well
as abnormalities of skeletal, cardiac
and reproductive systems. The Merle
coat colour gene affects numerous
breeds including Shelties, Australian
Shepherds,
Collies,
Dachshunds,
Poodles, Chihuahuas, Great Danes,
Border Collies, Cardigan Welsh Corgis
and Cocker Spaniels.
By testing dogs for this genetic trait, it
is possible to:
! allow identification of merle
dogs to prevent undesirable
merle to merle breeding
! classify harlequin Danes as
single or double merle
! identify cryptic merles
VITA-TECH will be announcing the
availability of this test to the dog
breeding community. Interested
breeders will be directed to contact
their
veterinarian
for
more
information. Please note that VITATECH will only accept samples
collected and submitted by the
veterinarian, and will not accept
samples directly from breeders.
" This technology is patent pending
(U.S. Serial #60/708,589) and
available exclusively through
VITA-TECH.
Merle Gene Test
Code:
MER
Specimen:
1 mL blood (EDTA lavender tube) or 2
buccal swabs
Storage:
Blood: Refrigerate, ship on ice.
Swabs: Air dry, do not refrigerate
Turnaround time: 5-7 business days
For more information about the merle coat colour gene please visit
our
website at www.vita-tech.com, contact customer service at 1 (800) 667-3411 or
speak with your VITA-TECH territory manager.
www.vita-tech.com
Dispatch / Ontario: (416) 798-4988 *1; (800) 667-3411 *1
Répartition Ottawa: (613) 780-9576 (Pager)
Québec: (866) 683-2551
Information Markham Main Lab / Labo principal: (416) 798-4988; (800) 667-3411; F: (905) 475-7309
Express Lab / Montréal Labo Express: (514) 633-9694; F: (514) 633-8820
merle_scalpelad_280306_EN_r1
1345 Denison Street
Markham, Ontario, L3R 5V2
North America Toll Free: (800) 667-3411
Continuing Education
Subscription Series
Kathy L. Mitchener, DVM
Angel Care Cancer Clinic for Animals
CANCER CARE IN
YOUR PRACTICE
Join us for a lively and information
packed seminar series, the goal of
which is to make oncology a
“do-able” and vital part of your
practice.
From philosophy of compassionate
cancer care to treatment options,
specific diseases, protocols and
how-to’s, we will cover as much as
possible in one day and equip you
with the most up to date approaches,
strategies and treatments for this
disease.
This lecture has been brought to you by:
Dr. Mitchener graduated from the University of Tennessee
College of Veterinary Medicine in 1985. She entered private
practice for a short while, and was then asked to return to the
University to do a residency in Oncology/Internal Medicine.
During her residency at the University of Tennessee, she became
acutely aware of the depth and importance of the role animals
play in peoples’ lives. This awareness led her to organize the
first conference at the University on Pet Loss and Human
Emotion. In addition, she was one of the founding members of a
nationally recognized organization called Human-Animal Bond
in Tennessee (HABIT).
Since her residency, Dr. Kathy as her clients know her, has
been in private practice in Memphis, TN. Her practice is now
limited to oncology and internal medicine at the referral hospital,
Angel Care Cancer Clinic for Animals. Outside of practice, Dr.
Kathy speaks internationally on compassionate care for the
cancer patient and the importance of the human-animal bond to
the veterinary community and to the general public.
Active in professional veterinary associations, her main focus
has been to teach veterinarians the importance of the relationship between animals and people. Her on-going work through
the TVMA has focused on bringing to light the importance of the
human-animal bond to practicing veterinarians. She received
the 2004 Leo K. Bustad Award for Companion Animal Practice
and the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association’s Human
Animal Bond award in 2005.
At home she is a mother of three children, Nathan 14, Matthew
12 and Sarah 9.
Tuesday, APR 11, 2006
2:00 – 5:00 PM & 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Sheraton Parkway Hotel
600 Highway 7 East (at Leslie Street)
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Tel: 905-881-2121
April 2006 Page 7
MORNINGSIDE
CLINIC
Continuing Education
Hospital Personnel Series
Charlotte MacDonald, RVT
University of Guelph
EMERGENCY
NURSING
PROCEDURES
This lecture will cover a variety of topics pertinent to the
role of the technician in emergency situations. Our discussion will focus on the preoperative care of the Gastric
Dilation Volvulus patient. The technician plays an important
role in the recognition and initial stabilization of these
patients. Decisions such as catheter choice, fluid resuscitation, analgesics and techniques for decompression will be
covered. There will be a short review of the physiology
and anatomy involved in GDV.
Charlotte MacDonald RVT, VTS(ECC)
Charlotte MacDonald currently works full time in the
SmallAnimal ICU at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital,
Ontario Veterinary College. She has held a position in the
ICU since 1999. Prior to this, she worked part time in the
LargeAnimal clinic at OVC, while working in a private
small animal practice.
Ms. MacDonald has held a part time position at The
Veterinary Emergency and Referral Centre (VEC South)
in Toronto since 2001.
Charlotte MacDonald obtained her Bachelor ofArts
degree in 1995 from York University. Her major was
psychology. She received her Veterinary Technician
Diploma in 1998 from Seneca College, graduating with
High Honours.
In the second half of the seminar, we will review a variety
of techniques that are essential to the technician in an
In 2004, Ms. MacDonald was granted the title Veteriemergency situation. For example, in the case of a respiratory distress patient, oxygen delivery is essential, but must nary Technician Specialist (Emergency and Critical Care)
be carried out with as little stress to the patient as possible. by theAcademy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical
Nasal oxygen cannulation and other low stress means for
Care Technicians.
oxygen delivery will be discussed. Patients in respiratory
distress may present for a variety of reasons. Our discussion will include a brief review of pneumothorax and
pleural effusion and focus on thoracocentesis to alleviate
these emergent conditions.
This lecture has been brought to you by:
Wednesday, APR 12, 2006
7:30 – 10:30 PM
Holiday Inn Yorkdale
3450 Dufferin Street
Toronto, Ontario
Tel: 416-789-5161
April 2006 Page 9
Some recent media items
concerning veterinarians,
clients, animals, and TAVM
Macleans, December 12, 2005, p.71:
“How much is that puggle in the
window?”
The puggle, a cross between a pug and
beagle, has supplanted the labradoodle
and cockapoo as the latest ‘must have’
dog among canine fashion slaves. Garry
Garner, President of the American
Canine Hybrid Club in Arkansas,
attributes the puggle’s sudden popularity
to a recent article in the Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel. That popularity has
motivated several Hollywood actors to
buy them, including Jake Gyllenhaal,
Kirsten Dunst, Sylvester Stallone,
Julianne Moore, and James Gandolfini.
Their US$1,000 price is what one
would expect to pay for a purebred dog.
Fully grown puggles weigh 14 to 20 lbs.
They have the soft, floppy ears of a
beagle and the comical back-mask facial
features of a pug, but with a slightly
longer snout. They yip rather than bark
loudly, so they’re suitable for apartment
dwellers. Reaction among breeders and
animal lovers is mixed. Puggle pups
may be cute and cuddly on Christmas
day, but may end up in the animal
shelter by June when they’ve become
dogs. Dog experts also worry that
people choose hybrid dogs because of
the commonly held myth that drawing
from a large gene pool makes mutts and
mixes stronger, healthier dogs. Noted
dog-book author and UBC psychologist
Dr. Stanley Coren says that is not
necessarily the case. The second
generation, obtained by mixing puggles
with other puggles, will yield random
combinations with unpredictable results.
Page 10 April 2006
He says, “…you’ll either end up with a
stupid pug or a smart beagle, but there
won’t be any consistency within the
litters.”
National Post, December 10, 2005,
p.WP2: “Cozying up to Bessie”
Anne Kingston’s column on the Post’s
Society page examines the social forces
behind the extreme views some people
take on our food. Anxieties over food
supply safety and a heightened
sensitivity to animal welfare are making
some food lovers obsessed with
livestock’s provenance. In effect, they
want to know where their dinner has
been, and they are starting to
anthropomorphize their food. Ms.
Kingston writes, “A society that calls its
animal companions “furkids” doesn’t
want its animal comestibles to live in
overcrowded, unhealthy confinement,
often in total darkness, and experience
painful death.” Food companies are
responding to gastronomes’ demands to
know the details of the animal’s feeding,
housing and lifestyle conditions before
slaughter. Heritage Foods USA provides
“turkeycams” that show customers the
living conditions before the turkeys are
processed for Christmas dinner. Several
companies, such as McDonald’s,
Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wendy’s, and
Burger King have hired Dr. Temple
Grandin to design their livestock
handling facilities. Dr. Grandin is an
animal rights activist and a professor of
Animal Science at Colorado State
University. She is a proponent of
“humane slaughter”, and uses animal
processing designs that keep the animals
calm before death. She maintains that
the worst violation of an animal is to
make it feel afraid. Her sentiments are
echoed by many farmers who agree that
animals slaughtered without stress
deliver more tender meat. Another trend
at the upscale end of the food chain is a
type of moral righteousness whereby
some people will only consume rare,
heritage breeds (also known as heirloom
breeds). These consumers preach that
their demand for eating heirloom breed
meat is aiding both the continuing
survival of the breed, and the small
farms which raise them. Otherwise, the
breeds would become extinct. These
small-scale farms also provide the
animals with a custom diet before
slaughter, to further influence the taste.
National Post, December 10, 2005,
p.A2: “Leap made in dolphin
breeding”
SeaWorld San Diego announced it
succeeded in selecting the gender of a
baby dolphin. The technique could
improve the population of captive sea
mammals and lessen the need for new
captures to vary the gene pool of
captive marine mammals. The calf was
bred using a sperm-sorting technology
jointly developed by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture and XY Inc.
of Fort Collins, Colorado. SeaWorld
scientists developed an artificial
insemination technique to impregnate
dolphins, as well as methods to freeze
and transport sperm. Male and female
dolphins have trouble mixing socially
and are usually kept in separate tanks.
Gender selecting techniques are already
used with horses, sheep, cattle and
other land animals.
Toronto Star, December 8, 2005,
p.J1: “Dog gone”
An unnamed Toronto Star reporter
recounts her experience in trying to
book a flight to Vancouver on Boxing
Day with her 20 lb. schnauzer. The
writer was suddenly confronted with
Air Canada’s new ban on pet travel over
the holidays. Heavy seasonal luggage
loads leave no room in the cargo hold
for dogs, so Air Canada will no longer
let passengers ship their pets between
December 19 and January 6. Pets can
still travel as carry-on luggage if their
crates are less than eight inches high.
Air Canada’s ‘live cargo’ service also
shuts down over the holidays. WestJet
has not flown pets over the holidays
since 1999. They say it is unfair to put a
pet in cargo hold during the holiday
season. The large amount of cargo
limits available oxygen. Couriers such as
FedEx or Purolator will not ship animals
either. Airline officials explain their
policy by saying the high cost of fuel
requires them to find efficiencies. Also,
few families travel with pets. And pets
also limit flexibility in the cargo hold.
But the writer questions the airlines’
cost motive. She reasons that if an
animal crate can cost up to $100 to
ship, but a person’s second suitcase
flies free if under the weight limit,
surely shipping the animal crate would
make more business sense. The writer’s
only apparent salvation was contacting
Continental Airlines’ 24-hour “PetSafe”
hotline for travelling with pets or
shipping them. The writer is ecstatic to
learn that a Continental flight is leaving
Toronto at 8:50am on Boxing Day. But
the flight is not direct. In fact, there’s a
10-hour stopover in Houston before
proceeding to Vancouver. And a
holdover this long will demand a
“comfort break” dog walk costing
US$105. The dog must also be brought
to the airport 3 hours ahead of the
flight, so its total transit time is 21
hours. Finally, the $40 receiving fee in
Vancouver, and the $296 shipping
charge each way convince the reporter
to leave the dog in Toronto.
Toronto Star, December 10, 2005,
p.M7: “Greyhounds’ speed rests in
hips, study says”
A study recently published in the
science journal Nature analyzed the gait
of 40 greyhounds while running a
straight path and taking tight bends. The
study was co-authored by Alan Wilson
and James Usherwood, a zoologist and
animal motion specialist at the Royal
Veterinary College in London. Their
research concludes that greyhounds are
such superb runners because of their
sleek style and ability to tackle tight
bends without slowing down. Humans
have to reduce speed at a banked curve
to cope with the increased gravitational
and centripetal forces on their legs,
whereas greyhounds attack a bend
without changing their stride. Humans
cope with the forces by increasing the
amount of time their foot is in contact
with the ground, causing them to slow
down. Sprinters on the inside lane at a
track meet are at a distinct disadvantage
because that lane is tighter than the
outside lane, so they have to
compensate more. The International
Association of Athletics Federations has
abandoned indoor sprints that have tight
bends because humans have too much
trouble with them. This research
supports the idea that greyhounds
power locomotion by torque about the
hips, just as in cycling humans. Horses,
hares, and greyhounds have about the
same top speed at roughly 17 metres a
second, or about 60 km/h, nearly double
the pace of humans.
people, yet the dogs could have
incredible variation in appearance, size,
and behavior. Much of the answer
involves differences in turning gene
activity on and off. The new work also
identified signs along the canine DNA
that will help in finding genes that
predispose dogs to certain diseases,
some of which they share with humans.
Toronto Star, December 10, 2005,
p.L6: “Cat Litter”
Robin Harvey’s Test Drive consumer
product column examines eight brands
of cat litter: four traditional types, and
four “newfangled” types. Ms. Harvey
rates the products on a five star system
based on dustiness, kickability, the pawprint factor and the retch factor (odour
retaining). In all cases, she scooped out
the clumps and solid waste in the
morning. Winner of 4 ½ stars was
Exquisicat Crystals, a product made
from non-toxic white silica crystals. All
eight products are available at pet
specialty stores. Article also includes
price per kg of product.
article continues on next page
Toronto Star, December
10, 2005, p.F4: “Decoding
dog DNA may hold clues
to human diseases”
Scientists at the Broad
Institute of Harvard have
announced they have
deciphered the DNA of a
female boxer, Tasha, and
have begun detailed
comparisons between breeds
and humans. These results
are more complete than those
announced in 2003 for the
DNA of a male poodle named
Shadow. DNA of mice, rats,
chimps, chickens and
humans has also been
deciphered. Scientists hope
to determine why two dogs
chosen at random have DNA
that differ by only as much
as two randomly chosen
Article continues on next page
April 2006 Page 11
Article cont’d from previous page
Toronto Star, December 10, 2005,
p.A3: “Slain woman’s beloved dog
in custody battle”
Rose McGroarty, 46, had a pet dog,
Sammy, who was loved by everyone in
the Dunn Avenue public housing
complex where she lived. When Rose’s
common-law husband, Robert
Wiszniowski was arrested and charged
with her murder, Samantha was
surrendered to the jurisdiction of the
Toronto Humane Society. Many of
Rose’s neighbours wished to adopt
Samantha, believing she would be off in
the only neighborhood she has ever
known. But THS said a protocol must
be followed, and officials could decide
that Sammy’s health problems make
make her “not suitable for adoption.”
Neighbours who have contacted THS to
adopt Samantha have had their names
put on a waiting list. Samantha is
currently in a foster home until
ownership issues are sorted out.
The Globe and Mail, December 10,
2005, p.R2: “Lady McCartney tells
EU to halt animal abuse”
A brief item reports on animal-rights
campaigner Heather Mills McCartney
calling upon the European Union to ban
the production and sale of cat and dog
fur in Europe. Lady McCartney
displayed a baby blanket sewn together
with 20 cat skins as proof of the
thriving industry and trade in dog and
cat skins. Cat products come mainly
from the Czech Republic, which joined
the EU in 2004. Lady McCartney told
reporters that 2000 to 3000 domestic
cats are stolen off the streets each year
in the Czech Republic alone, and are
skinned alive for their pelts.
National Post, December 13, 2005,
p.A2: “Trophy animals get
protection”
The Raincoast Conservation Foundation
has acquired the guide-outfitting rights
to five contiguous hunting regions along
the central coast of British Columbia,
stretching from the northern tip of
Vancouver Island in the south to
Page 12 April 2006
Princess Royal Island in the north. They
purchased this 20,000 square kilometre
land mass for $1.35 million. The regions
are home to hundreds of native species,
including grizzlies, black bears, spirit
bears, wolves, cougars, mountain goats
and deer. Raincoast intends to put an
immediate end to all commercial hunting
in the area. No one from outside BC will
be permitted to kill any animals in the
region for sport. BC residents may
continue to hunt and kill wildlife; they
operate under different regulations.
Raincoast bought the license from a
former guide-outfitter, raising the
money over a six-month period mainly
from private donations. This purchase
of such a large tract of land for
conservation interests is unprecedented
in North America.
Toronto Star, December 14, 2005,
p.A3: “794 species face doom”
A recently published paper in the online
edition of Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences lists 595 sites
around the world which have been
identified as the sole home of at least
one endangered species. Mike Parr, a
co-author of the paper, says, “We felt it
was important that the human race have
a global map of where single species
sites are. At least this puts up a marker
for sites that, if we lose them, we
absolutely are going to lose the species.”
Several of the sites are home to more
than one endangered species, bringing
the total to 794 endangered species
living at these locations. Mexico has 63
such locations, more than any other
country. Canada has just two sites,
which are home to the whooping crane
and the Vancouver Island marmot.
Toronto Star, December 15, 2005,
p.A3: “Deep’s secrets revealed”
The Census of Marine Life is a ten-year,
$1 billion project that is now entering its
fifth year. Its 1700 experts from 73
countries are involved in finding new
species, tracking existing ones, and
cataloguing everything into a master
inventory that links 60 existing marine
species databases. About one new
marine species is being added every
week; about 230,000 marine species are
currently known. The project is also
tracking radio-tagged bluefin tuna that
cross the Pacific three times in 600
days, swimming up to 40,000
kilometres. They are also mapping the
bottom of the oceans. Of particular
interest are the shallower continental
shelves. These are called marine
highways because many commercially
important fish species move along them.
It is only recently, through better
technology such as microchips, that
scientists have been able to follow fish
such as salmon, for months. A greater
knowledge of these corridors will enable
scientists to develop smarter fishing
practices and avoid overfishing.
National Post, December 19, 2005,
p.A3: “Europe’s ‘disgusting’ trade in
dog fur”
Ms. Yordanka Zrcheva, the president of
the Bulgarian Society for the Protection
of Animals, went undercover with a
German documentary crew to
investigate the booming trade in dog and
cat fur coats. Fur items from Eastern
Europe are often re-labeled to disguise
their origins before being stitched into
coats and re-dyed. One Bulgarian fur
was incorrectly passed off as “Korean
Wolf”. But unlike the $20,000 price tag
for a mink coat, a top line dog pelt coat
may sell for about $820. A PETA
spokesperson said there are reports of
pets being snatched for their fur. They
tend to be bigger dogs like German
shepherds or golden retrievers. “It is
important for people to realize that when
they buy fur, it is nearly impossible to
tell whether real dog or cat has been
used unless it undergoes DNA testing.
The US, Sweden, Denmark, Greece,
Italy, France and Australia have banned
trade in dog and cat fur. According to
the documentary, dog fur factories all
over Bulgaria are producing fur coats,
leather shoes and bags. Bulgarian
authorities are unwilling to clamp down
because the industry is “big business.”
The average monthly salary in Bulgaria
is about $70. It is estimated that around
10,000 dogs are collected and killed in
Sofia alone every year, often shipped
straight to fur factories from dog
pounds and animal shelters.
National Post, December 19, 2005,
p.A3: “New Yorkers go to court over
cat with two names”
The Supreme Court of New York will
soon rule on the custody of a cat that
strayed from his home one day when
his owner’s blind roommate left their
Greenwich Village apartment door open.
Chavisa Woods, a 22-year-old poet, is
suing for the return of Oliver from a
woman identified only as Jane Doe.
Jane adopted the cat and renamed him
Gatsby after an animal rescue worker
picked him up from the street.
Ownership revolves around an 1894 law
that says an owner must register
interest in retrieving a lost pet within 48
hours or forfeit ownership. Animal
rescue groups are carefully reviewing
the implications of revising this law. It
could make them vulnerable to
thousands of lawsuits involving adopted
or euthanized pets. Oliver left the
apartment September 27. Jane Doe
adopted the cat on Oct 11 from a
shelter, which re-contacted the woman
after learning Ms. Woods was looking
for her pet. According to Jane Doe’s
lawyer, Ms. Doe considered returning
the cat was but told by a shelter
employee that Ms. Woods had been
very belligerent on the phone. The
shelter employee also said they were not
particularly confident in Ms. Woods’
ability to care for the cat. Ms. Doe then
decided it would be in the cat’s best
interest to keep it.
The Globe and Mail, December 21,
2005, p.A3: “Fighting for herds
under threat in Alberta”
Eight major conservation groups have
filed a petition to Environment Minister
Stephan Dion demanding that Ottawa
stop the precipitous slide in Caribou
numbers in Alberta. They want an order
giving temporary protection to
remaining caribou habitats, pending
action to preserve some of these lands.
Unrestricted logging and oil exploration
have cut caribou number from 9000
during the 1960s to fewer than 3000.
Without protection, caribou may be
wiped out in many areas in less than 40
years. The federal government has
never used the sweeping powers of the
Endangered Species Act because of fear
of offending the provinces. The
province has classified the species as
endangered, and ended hunting in 1980.
The population hasn’t recovered
because habitat destruction, not
sportsmen, is the major threat. Caribou
depend on lichens for up to 70% of
their diet. Lichens grow best in mature
boreal forests that are more than 150
years old. As forestry companies
destroy these woodlands, caribou lose
their food supply.
The Globe and Mail, December 21,
2005, p.B7: “Thousands of angry
letters force eBay to reverse pet
plan”
Over 2000 angry letters have persuaded
eBay, the San Jose, Calif.-based internet
auctioneer, to cancel plans to allow the
sale of pets on its website. It has long
banned the sale of live animals except
fish and snails. eBay wanted to create a
separate classifieds category that would
have featured free ads from animal
shelters and paid ads from breeders.
Most of the letter writers worried these
ads would encourage puppy mills.
eBbay initially got the idea from the
booming sales of pet supplies and
indications that users may want a pet
listing service.
National Post, December 22, 2005,
p.A2: “Sunday hunting ban shot
down”
The province of Newfound & Labrador
plans to partially lift its 1863 law
banning Sunday hunting. The ban was
one of the last vestiges of legally
enforced Sabbath observance. Despite
its religious roots, in the past 16 years,
the ban’s purpose has been to manage
wildlife and give hikers and berry
pickers a day to stroll through the
woods without fear of getting shot. The
change from religion to wildlife
management happened after a 1985
provincial court struck down the law
and forbid the government from
banning the Sunday hunt on religious
grounds. The province appealed and
won. In 1989 the ban was back for
wildlife management reasons. The new
rules allow hunters to shoot and snare
on Sundays, from the first Sunday in
November to the end of the big game
hunting season, which runs roughly
until mid-December.
The Globe and Mail, December 24,
2005, p.A3: “Polar bears treading on
thin ice”
Polar bear population along the western
coast of Hudson Bay has dropped by
22% from 1987 to 2004. Environment
Canada scientists predict this continued
trend will make the bears extinct within
25 to 40 years. The thinning ice caused
by global warming is being blamed for
the population drop. The early summer
ice melt prevents bears from catching
sufficient ringed seals to accumulate
enough fat to survive in their
environment. Body condition declines
significantly as a result. The reduced
food supply cuts the survival chances
of 3 to 4 year-old cubs. Adult bears are
not yet affected. The population decline
is a major development and suggests
that a recent decision by Nunavut to
approve a large polar bear hunting
program is a bad idea. Many
northerners believe there are more bears
than usual because they keep seeing so
many of them close to hunting lodges
and communities. But this is an illusion
caused by so many bears being hungry
that many of them are forced to
scavenge for food around humans.
More bears are being sighted, but the
population is actually falling.
Toronto Star, December 26, 2005,
p.A47: “Dodo skeleton found on
island of Mauritius”
In the Dutch city of Leiden, scientists
from the Netherlands Organization for
Applied Scientific Research announced
they had found a complete skeleton of a
long-extinct dodo bird. The discovery
Article continues on next page
April 2006 Page 13
Media Alert.. cont’d from page 13
was made on a sugar cane plantation on
the island of Mauritius, off the east
coast of Madagascar. The dodo
flourished in Mauritius, but its numbers
were decimated after the arrival of
Dutch and Portuguese sailors in the
1500s. The last recorded sighting of a
live dodo was in 1663. No complete
skeleton of a single dodo bird had ever
been retrieved before from an
archaeological site in Mauritius. The last
Page 14 April 2006
known stuffed bird was destroyed in a
1755 Oxford Museum fire, leaving only
partial skeletons and drawings of the
bird. The scientists believe good DNA
material can be retrieved from the latest
discovery, enabling them to better place
the dodo in relation to other species.
The Portuguese named the bird “dodo”,
which means fool, because it showed
no fear of humans and did not fly.
Scientists now believe the bird showed
no fear of humans because it lacked
natural predators on Mauritius, and did
not fly because it had grown too large
and heavy. Adult dodos grew to around
one metre long, and weighed about 20
kilograms.
National Post, January 2, 2006, pA1:
“English town faces year of the wild
pig”
Animal activists raided a wild boar farm,
Woodland Wild Boar, and set free 60
large, hairy, tusked boars into the
southwest English countryside. The 100
people living in the closest town, West
Anstey, are now afraid to go outside for
fear of being attacked. Local farm
owners fear the boars will cause them
to lose their livelihood. The activists’
actions caused the owner of the boar
farm, Alan Dedames, to lose all his
stock, valued at $500,000. He was
initially prevented by the government
from retrieving the boars which had
wandered onto neighbouring farms. A
law regarding livestock movement was
introduced after the 2001 foot-and
mouth disease outbreak. This law
prevents him from removing animals
that were on other farm properties. If
one farmer’s animals stray onto another
farm, that farm is on “standstill”, and
nothing can move off it. The penalty for
breaking this law is $12,000 per animal.
Mr. Dedames has since been given an
emergency license allowing him to
round up his animals, partly to counter
the outrage from other farmers. Mr.
Dedames thinks wild boars will be
roaming the area for decades. Over
90% of his females were pregnant, and
the area into which they escaped is full
of nuts, roots and mushrooms. Wild
boar populations already exist in Devon
and Somerset.
National Post, January 2, 2006,
p.A11: “Stranded whales killed”
A brief item in the Post’s World Report
column says that dozens of stranded
whales have been shot dead on a New
Zealand beach after conservation
officials decided it was too dangerous to
try to refloat them. Officials discovered
the long-finned pilot whales on Farewell
Spit, in South Island. Eight animals died
naturally within a few hours of the
stranding; 41 others were shot to end
their suffering. Elders in the local Maori
tribe were called upon to provide a
traditional tribal blessing over the bodies
of the dead whales.
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April 2006 Page 15
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All the lectures, all the people, are right there at your fingertips.
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Page 16 April 2006
The deadline for submissions
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The Scalpel publishes seven times a year
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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
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