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To provide a look at where and how often the AVMA has been mentioned in the media in the past week, the AVMA Media Relations Division has developed this weekly AVMA@Work blog series, “AVMA in the News,” showing the number … read more >

When you click the links in the AVMA@Work newsletter, you tell us what’s important to you. Below are the Top 10 member interests in 2015, based on your clicks. Each item below is a representative sample of the content we … read more >

When thieves broke into a home in Claygate, England, on Saturday, they took two iPads, costume jewelry — and the family’s 22-week-old Cocker Spaniel puppy. But thankfully, Maximus is back home just in time for Christmas. The pup was found on a street 13 miles from the Dowling family’s home and brought to a kennel, where his identity was confirmed through his microchip. “Words cannot describe the feeling of seeing, then holding and then hugging Maximus when we were reunited with him at Treetops Kennels,” said owner Sandra Dowling, in a statement from the Surrey Police. “We are all over the moon now he is home, safe and asleep. He has eaten and has had lots of hugs.” — Read it at the U.K.’s Evening Standard

Puppy reunited with family in time for Xmas, 2 arrested, enqs continue, call 101 with info https://t.co/OUC3ee7xFb pic.twitter.com/tlMbLnEf5d

— Surrey Police (@SurreyPolice) December 22, 2015

To provide a look at where and how often the AVMA has been mentioned in the media in the past week, the AVMA Media Relations Division has developed this weekly AVMA@Work blog series, “AVMA in the News,” showing the number … read more >

Ten students selected to participate in our 2016 AVMA Governmental Relations Division (GRD) externship program will strengthen our advocacy efforts on the Hill. The externship program brings the veterinary students to Washington, D.C., every year, where they work side-by-side with … read more >

From advocating for funding for key veterinary programs to working to block a prescription mandate that would impact all veterinarians, AVMA’s Governmental Relations Division (GRD) has been hard at work this year. The AVMA GRD recently updated its legislative agenda … read more >

Identifying veterinary shortage areas is a central component of the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), which helps place veterinarians where they are needed. AVMA members can play a key role by helping their state officials nominate these areas. Your … read more >

House members have once again introduced a bill that will do nothing to improve the welfare of America’s walking horses. The AVMA urges Congress to say “neigh” to the Horse Protection Amendments Act (H.R. 4105), which would allow the abusive … read more >

The holidays are an exciting time, but from chocolate and baked goods to tinsel and trees, they can be dangerous for our pets. The AVMA has resources for you to share with clients to help make sure the holidays stay … read more >

The AVMA has been working to ensure that tax breaks beneficial to veterinary medicine are included in the end-of-the-year $650 billion tax package being negotiated by lawmakers this week. Details of the tax breaks for veterinary small business owners are … read more >

The AVMA’s priorities were well represented in the $1.15 trillion fiscal 2016 omnibus bill that Congress finally agreed upon and will vote on this week. The bill combines all 12 annual spending measures into one large bill, funding federal agencies … read more >

In light of recent news related to the proposed creation of new U.S. veterinary schools, the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Economics Division conducted an economic analysis of how the veterinary workforce and, more specifically, the market for veterinary education may … read more >

Dec. 14, 2015: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Radar returns

Dog Returns as Cameras Roll

Local TV station LEX 18 was interviewing a Kentucky couple at their home last week about their lost service dog when the Labrador Retriever suddenly appeared, about a half mile away. Owner Jason Cooper spotted Radar on the other side of a fence and went running to get him — with a cameraman on his trail. The two jumped fences and went through a creek before the reporter captured Cooper’s emotional reunion with his dog. Radar, who’d helped the family through the loss of their two young daughters to a genetic disorder, had been missing for four days. “He's one of the only souls who has the same memories and experience as we do,” said Carolyn Cooper. “I had hope, but I was afraid, this is the most amazing thing, I can't believe it,” said Jason, through tears. It’s unclear who helped bring Radar back home, but the Coopers are grateful to them. — Watch it at People Pets

Photo of Injured Military Dog With Purple Heart Goes Viral

A photo of Rocky, a military police dog who was injured in Afghanistan this month, has captured a lot of attention on social media. In the photo, Rocky is resting in a hospital in Germany with a Purple Heart medal displayed on his collar. The dog and his handler, Spc. Andrew Brown, were injured when a bomb exploded while they were searching a building for explosive materials. “The Army typically does not process awards for our working dogs the same way we do for our other soldiers,” Army spokesman Sgt. Michal Garrett told the Killeen (Texas) Daily Herald. “The Purple Heart in the photo was placed on Rocky as a sign of respect and solidarity between him and Brown during their recovery.” The photo was shared by Fort Hood’s 89^th Military Police Brigade on Facebook, and went viral. Both Brown and Rocky, who suffered a broken leg, are expected to recover from their injuries. Brown has been transferred to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and Rocky is expected to return to Fort Hood in the coming weeks. — Read it at Fox News

Study: All Birds Descend From One Ancestor

A new study finds every bird alive today has a common ancestor that lived in South America 95 million years ago. “This ancestor would have looked like a bird, not like a dinosaur, and might have been capable of full flight, like many other birds from the Late Cretaceous,” said study co-author Joel Cracraft of the American Museum of Natural History. However, the precise identity of this species remains a mystery. The researchers did determine that the common ancestor lived in South America for at least 25 million years before major changes started to occur. The study was published in the journal Science Advances. — Read it at Discovery News

Image: Woodland Park Zoo baby gorilla

Rare Gorilla Gets Hand-Reared

A critically endangered newborn Western lowland gorilla is being hand-reared at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle because her first-time mom walked away after she was born, rather than picking up her baby. But the zoo hasn’t given up on a relationship between Nadiri and her infant, who was born on Nov. 20. Keepers are feeding and caring for the baby around the clock, but each day, they’re making several attempts to introduce her to her mom. The baby is staying in a den next to Nadiri and two other members of the group, where they can see each other. “Nadiri consistently enters the den for each introduction session. While she still hasn’t picked up her baby, she remains next to her. When the baby cries, she sometimes touches her in a calming manner. When Nadiri is in her own den, she watches her baby and grunts contentedly,” said the zoo’s mammal curator, Martin Ramirez. “It isn’t strong maternal behavior yet, but we’re encouraged by these positive sessions and gestures of interest.” — Read it at Zooborns

Neighbor Adopts Cat Abandoned in Apartment

Walter the cat has a new home, thanks to his concerned neighbor. Tom could hear the loud meows of a cat coming from the apartment next door to him in Fargo, North Dakota, according to the Homeward Animal Shelter. But he says the landlord wasn’t cooperating with his pleas to open the apartment and search for the cat. Luckily, Walter took matters into his own paws. It turns out, Tom could hear his cries so loudly because he was inside the wall between the two apartments, and found his way to Tom through some ductwork. Finally, Tom was able to rescue him by opening a vent cover. Now, Tom has adopted the cat, who he named Walter after his adventure inside the walls. Walter has a comfortable new home just in time for the holidays. — Read it at North Dakota’s Valley News Live

To provide a look at where and how often the AVMA has been mentioned in the media in the past week, the AVMA Media Relations Division has developed this weekly AVMA@Work blog series, “AVMA in the News,” showing the number … read more >

To provide a look at where and how often the AVMA has been mentioned in the media in the past week, the AVMA Media Relations Division has developed this weekly AVMA@Work blog series, “AVMA in the News,” showing the number … read more >

New AVMA video tells Dr. Vosburg’s story A new video posted to the AVMA’s YouTube channel shares with you a bit of Dr. Zach Vosburg’s story. A mixed-animal practitioner in a rural community, Dr. Vosburg has benefitted from the Veterinary … read more >

Two years ago, Jan Brown left her job so she could spend all of her time helping rescued Greyhounds — by knitting them sweaters. Brown, who lives in England, has now spent more than 4,000 hours creating wooly clothing for the dogs. “Making coats and jumpers for these dogs saves the rescue homes a lot of money that can be better spent saving more dogs off the streets and feeding them,” she said. She said it’s “really sweet” seeing the Greyhounds in their “festive Christmas jumpers.” Brown sells coats for Greyhounds through her business Knitted With Love, and the money she makes there goes toward buying materials and paying for postage to send the sweaters to rescues. — Read it at People Pets

Dec. 4, 2015: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Rottweiler pulled from minnesota lake

Crews Pull Dog to Safety

Bailey, a Rottweiler mix, ran on to thin ice on Little Grand Lake in Minnesota Wednesday and fell through. With the dog unable to pull himself back onto solid ice, Grand Lake Fire-Rescue and the St. Louis County Rescue Squad were called in to help. The crew “grinched their way across wafer-thin ice to pull Bailey into a banana boat and back to safety,” the squad wrote in a post with a photo on Facebook. The rescue squad is reminding people to be cautious around ice — especially at the beginning of the winter, when it may be thin. — Read it at CBS Minnesota and get tips for how to keep your dog safe around ice

Study: Scientists Find Pygmy Slow Loris Hibernates

Researchers from Austria have found that the pygmy slow loris, which lives in Cambodia, China, Vietnam, and Laos, hibernates to conserve energy. Previously, lemurs living on the island of Madagascar were the only primates known to hibernate. They found the tiny animals engaged in hibernation episodes between December and February that lasted up to 63 hours each. The researchers suspect the loris has an internal clock that helps induce the hibernation periods during seasons when food is scarce and the temperature drops. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports. — Read it at Discovery News

Three New Poisonous Toad Species Found in Brazil

Measuring between one and 2.5 centimeters, three tiny new toad species were discovered in the Atlantic forest of southern Brazil. The toads are dark brown with red markings and are covered in warts. Their digestive process creates a chemical in the skin that can poison predators. One of the species is at risk of extinction. The Brazilian scientists emphasized the biological significance of the area where the toads were found. “This forest serves as an incubator for the origin of species," said Marcos Bornschein, a researcher with the Federal University of Parana. "It's a laboratory of huge importance for the mapping and conserving and understanding of biological processes.” The new species were described in the journal PLOS ONE. — Read it at Phys.org

Image: Lazarus the kitten revived

Family Resuscitates Freezing Kitten

A tiny kitten who was brought back to life by a family gathered for Thanksgiving was aptly named Lazarus. Branden Bingham found the kitten, who was only a few weeks old, lying in a foot of snow outside his family’s cabin in Utah on Thanksgiving morning. He said the kitten was lifeless, and he brought it into the house. His brother, Justin, who had taken veterinary classes, started trying to give it CPR and warm it up. He knelt by the fire with the kitten for more than an hour, rubbing its chest and trying to get the blood moving. Just as he was about to give up, the kitten opened his mouth. "Unbelievable what it looked like, what was going to be a sad start to a Thanksgiving ended up being what we would say is an early Christmas miracle watching this cat literally being brought back to life right in front of our eyes,” Branden said. Lazarus went home to live with one of the Binghams’ cousins, and is doing well. — Watch it at Salt Lake City’s Fox 13

Woman Knits 300 Sweaters for Greyhounds

Two years ago, Jan Brown left her job so she could spend all of her time helping rescued Greyhounds — by knitting them sweaters. Brown, who lives in England, has now spent more than 4,000 hours creating wooly clothing for the dogs. “Making coats and jumpers for these dogs saves the rescue homes a lot of money that can be better spent saving more dogs off the streets and feeding them,” she said. She said it’s “really sweet” seeing the Greyhounds in their “festive Christmas jumpers.” Brown sells coats for Greyhounds through her business Knitted With Love, and the money she makes there goes toward buying materials and paying for postage to send the sweaters to rescues. — Read it at People Pets

Dec. 3, 2015: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Abandoned puppy named for The Rock

Actor Helps His Little Namesake

When Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson heard about a puppy who’d been rescued from abuse and suffered from heart trouble, he didn’t hesitate to help. The wrestler-turned-actor helped save the abandoned 4-month-old pup who rescuers had named for him with a $1,500 donation toward life-saving surgery. "Stay strong lil' Rock! Let's get you taken care of, healed up and feeling better for Christmas. Plus you have a VERY cool name to uphold;). Got your back," the actor wrote on a GoFundMe page set up by Saving Spot Rescue. The group has now surpassed its goal and raised $6,000 for the puppy. Any unused funds will go to help the other 60 dogs in the rescue’s care. The Rock’s generosity comes about two months after a sad incident where his own puppy passed away after eating a poisonous mushroom. — Read it at Today

Cat Gets Prosthetic Legs

A cat who was found as a kitten at a Nevada campground with injured hind legs is making strides after a rare procedure to give him implants and titanium prosthetic legs. The design of the implants allows for Vincent’s bone to grow onto the titanium shafts to support his weight. But because the shafts are exposed to the environment, his dedicated owner has to be vigilant about applying an antibiotic spray to prevent infection. Vincent, who’s now 3 years old, had his first surgery in February 2014, another a year later and has since had more treatments. "I anticipate that he'll be jumping and doing really normal cat things very soon," said Dr. Mary Sarah Bergh, the veterinary orthopedic surgeon from Iowa State University who attached the cat’s prosthetic legs and has overseen his rehabilitation. Bergh said she “couldn’t be happier with how he’s doing at the current time.” — Read it at Science Daily

Police Save Woman and Dogs From Icy Reservoir

Police in Mantua, Utah, came to the rescue of a woman and her two dogs, who had fallen through ice that was just beginning to form on the Mantua Reservoir. The police were called at about 9 a.m. Sunday by a city water employee who saw the woman and her dogs when he was making his rounds in the area. The police officers who responded used a water-rescue device to lift Rebecca Peterson and her dogs to safety. On Wednesday, the officers were recognized by PETA for the dramatic rescue with a “Compassionate Police Department” award. — Read it at Good 4 Utah

Image: donkey in police car

Mini Donkey Rescued by Police

With some pushing, pulling and the promise of food, a Norman, Oklahoma, police officer managed to get an unusual suspect into the back seat of his patrol car. Squishy, who prefers to ride with his head out the window, is a miniature donkey. He was spotted wandering on a rural road Tuesday morning by a local woman who said she had a pen for Squishy but no way to get him there. So, Officer Kyle Canaan responded and gave the donkey a lift. She said she’ll keep Squishy if an owner doesn’t come forward. — Read it at CBS News

Dog Finds Kittens Left in Box

Two kittens in Connecticut have a dog to thank for saving their lives. The 3-month-old brother and sister kittens were found in a box that was taped shut and left in a field. It was discovered by a dog who was out for a walk with his owner Tuesday. “When the dog went closer to it, the box started meowing,” said Groton, Connecticut, Police Lt. John Varone. The kittens appear to be healthy and friendly despite their ordeal. “They’re wonderful playful kittens. They were definitely somebody’s pet at some point,” said animal control officer Christine O’Brien. If the kittens’ owner is found, they could face cruelty charges. As for the cute kittens, they’re expected to be adopted quickly once they’re ready for new homes. — Watch it at NBC Connecticut

Dec. 2, 2015: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Pippin with boys

Wiggly Dog Happy to Be Home

Cara Esau brought her sons an early Christmas surprise Monday: their Australian Shepherd, Pippin, who’d been missing for a year. Cameras were rolling as Esau walked into her house with Pippin, shocking her boys, who got more and more excited to see their missing pet as the reality of her return sunk in. The pooch wiggled happily and gave her family kisses. "I was blasted with emotions at first," said Timothy Esau. "It was really confusing, my mind was swirling. I kept thinking, is this a dream? I just didn't know." His brother agrees. "I was so excited, it was the best time of my life. I'm so glad to have Pippin back, I've missed her so much," said Aaron. Pippin was reported stolen from the front of a store on Dec. 14, 2014. Police were called to a home Monday where there was a dog who met Pippin’s description. Once they confirmed it was her through her microchip, the woman who had her was arrested and charged. But the Esau family says that for now, they’re choosing not to focus on what happened, and are just glad that Pippin is home, safe and sound. — Watch it at Oregon’s Fox 12

Dog Slobbers Kisses on His Rescuer

We have another very happy dog to tell you about. Last Friday, Edward Emmerich and his Belgian Malinois, Duke, became trapped in floodwaters in McKinney, Texas. Emmerich, who’s homeless and had been living in an encampment with Duke, clutched his dog in the water while trying to call 911. Rescuers pinged his cell phone to determine his location, and hoisted both Emmerich and Duke from the water. That’s when Duke showed his gratitude. "His feet hit the ground and he almost instantly went towards the firefighter that had saved him, jumped all over him, licked all over him," photographer Michael O'Keefe, who witnessed the scene, told NBC DFW. "It was real touching to watch.” O’Keefe captured heartwarming photos of the scene. Emmerich is a construction worker, and one of his clients is now allowing him and his dog to stay at the home he’s working on. — See photos at the Huffington Post

Study Finds “Rudimentary” Empathy in Macaques

Researchers in France say they believe the results of their experiment suggest macaques are aware of the emotional state of other macaques and show empathy toward them in some circumstances. In the experiments, 14 pairs of monkeys were placed opposite one another and were able to take turns picking an icon on a screen to offer their partner a sip of juice as a reward or a puff of air into the eyes as a punishment. They then tracked their eye movements and blink rate as signals of social engagement. They found most of the monkeys gave rewards freely but weren’t inclined to punish their peers. The researchers noted a link between social gazing and granting a reward, suggesting the monkeys were aware of what they were doing. The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. — Read it at Phys.org

Image: FDNY firefighter and hawk

FDNY Rescues Red-Tailed Hawk

An injured red-tailed hawk was saved from a street in lower Manhattan near a construction site Monday by New York City firefighters. The bird was spotted by construction workers, who asked the crew at a nearby firehouse for help. The firefighters, including one who is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, gently wrapped the bird in a sheet and scooped it up. They brought it back to the firehouse to give it care. The bird appeared to be in good spirits, reported NBC New York, but it was unclear whether it was well enough to be released. The rescue came just a day after the NYPD saved another hawk from the East River. — Read it at the New York Post

Elephants Pull Calf From Mud in Video

In a sweet new video, a baby elephant stuck in a watering hole is pulled to safety by an adult. According to Wild Wings Safaris, which posted the video on YouTube, the rest of the herd had left after getting a drink in the watering hole, but the calf was struggling to climb out. As the calf’s mother was having trouble helping her baby, the rest of the herd returned, and an older female lent a helping trunk, the group said on Facebook. — Watch it at YouTube

Got a few hours you can spare to help some of our veterinary students earn a scholarship? The American Veterinary Medical Foundation is seeking about 20 volunteers who can serve on the AVMF Scholarship Review Committee. The AVMF offers several … read more >

We’re pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016 Veterinary Leadership Conference (VLC) Scholarships. Funded by the AVMA and Zoetis, the scholarships recognize recent graduates and emerging leaders who have graduated from veterinary school within the past 15 years, and … read more >

To provide a look at where and how often the AVMA has been mentioned in the media in the past week, the AVMA Media Relations Division has developed this weekly AVMA@Work blog series, “AVMA in the News,” showing the number … read more >