Animal Welfare Information Center

ScienceDaily - The eyes may or may not be windows to the soul, as the old adage goes, but scientists are reporting evidence that a peek into the eyes of cattle may become the basis for a long-sought test to detect infection with the agent that causes Mad Cow Disease. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100602121111.htm

Public Library of Science - As a result of domestication, selection for desirable phenotypes, and breed propagation, the domestic dog is unmatched in its diversity as a land mammal. Exhibiting extraordinary levels of both interbreed heterogeneity and intrabreed homogeneity, evidenced in part by the extensive linkage disequilibrium observed in many breeds, the dog provides an as-yet unrealized opportunity to uncover the molecular mechanisms that govern natural variation across mammalian species. http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1000310

Animal abuse registries are being considered by lawmakers in California, Rhode Island and Louisiana. The registries would function much like sex offender registries, requiring convicted animal abusers to register personal information with local law enforcement. http://www.agandfoodlaw.com/2009/01/welcome-to-us-agriculture-and-food-law.html

UsaToday.com - The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the American Veterinary Medical Association oppose using monkeys as service animals. "We're very supportive of assistance animals in general, but this probably isn't the best choice," says Gail Golab, director of animal welfare for the American Veterinary Medical Association. "Monkeys are very intelligent, which is why they are used as service animals, but that can also make them dangerous." http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-06-02-monkey_N.htm

Fish, like other animals, can get sick. Bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses, and poor water quality can cause disease. Fish producers and fish hatchery managers worry about diseases because they can kill many fish quickly. FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) works to ensure that safe and effective drugs are available to treat fish diseases and that treated food fish are safe for people and other animals to eat. http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/ucm213944.htm

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, also known as The Guide, is intended to assist IACUCs, researchers, and veterinarians in fulfilling their obligation to plan, conduct, and oversee animal experiments in accordance with the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles.The Guide makes recommendations for humane animal care and use based on published data, scientific principles, expert opinion, and experience with methods and practices proven consistent with high-quality, humane animal care and use. http://dels.nas.edu/global/ilar/Guide

The VIN News Service - An acclaimed statistician plans to teach a four-day course for veterinarians this summer, and news of the class has created a buzz among some in the profession. http://news.vin.com/vinnews.aspx?articleId=15878

The Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health today launched a new Web site that, when fully developed, will provide a mechanism for the reporting of pre- and post-market safety data to the federal government. Currently the Web site can be used to report safety problems related to foods, including animal feed, and animal drugs, as well as adverse events occurring on human gene transfer trials. Consumers can also use the site to report problems with pet foods and pet treats. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm213221.htm

As part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today announced the availability of the compliance guide for mobile slaughter units. This document presents recommendations and is not a regulatory requirement. FSIS will post this compliance guide on its Significant Guidance Documents Web page at www.fsis.usda.gov/Significant_Guidance/index.asp. Full Announcement - http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_gAC9-wMJ8QY0MDpxBDA09nXw9DFxcXQ-cAA_2CbEdFAEUOjoE!/?contentidonly=true&contentid=2010%2F05%2F0283.xml

TulsaWorld.com - The report criticizes a federal agency's lack of enforcement against so-called puppy mills. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=16&articleid=20100526_16_A9_JohnRa280060

ScienceDaily - A group led by Dr. Edward Hoover at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO have generated a mouse model of cervid chronic wasting disease. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100526103906.htm

Knoxville News Sentinel - Of the 65 students who graduated this spring from UT's vet school, 29 percent indicated they were interested in a mixed large animal practice ... http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/may/27/fewer-grads-choosing-to-become-rural-vets/

WashingtonPost.com - An animal welfare group said Tuesday that a graphic video it secretly recorded shows workers at a dairy farm beating cows with crowbars, stabbing them with pitchforks and punching them in their heads. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/25/AR2010052504835.html?hpid=sec-nation

NC3Rs.org - Animal experiments remain essential to understand the fundamental mechanisms underpinning malignancy and to discover improved methods to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. Excellent standards of animal care are fully consistent with the conduct of high quality cancer research. Here we provide updated guidelines on the welfare and use of animals in cancer research. http://www.nc3rs.org.uk/document.asp?id=1333

PDF, Size: 4,699,844 bytes - U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General. http://www.usda.gov/oig/webdocs/33002-4-SF.pdf

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued the following statement regarding OIG’s audit of USDA’s inspection of problematic dog dealers. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2010/05/dog_dealers.shtml

@TheHorse - The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced May 25 a wide-ranging agenda of health and safety issues for Thoroughbred racing for the third summit, scheduled for June 28-29 at the Keeneland sale pavilion in Lexington. http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=16412

Wisconsin State Journal - A new committee would be tasked with the job of recommending whether the Dane County Board should officially "endorse" or "oppose" scientific experiments on monkeys in the county. http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt_and_politics/article_0b2d5326-652b-11df-8a68-001cc4c03286.html

@TheHorse - The Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine, a part of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, will partner with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) to create new opportunities to help veterinary students who seek research-oriented careers focused on laboratory investigations and animal disease surveillance. http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=16399

NBC Washington - A new high tech genetics lab will open at the National Zoo Tuesday with a mission to help protect endangered species in the wild and in zoos ... http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local-beat/New-DNA-Lab-to-Open-at-National-Zoo-94742469.html