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Image: Harley the Hero Dog 2015

2015 “Hero Dog” Dies at Age 15

Harley, a tiny Chihuahua, had a big impact in the last few years of his life. The 6-pound, one-eyed dog lived his first 10 years in a cage before he was rescued from a puppy mill. In addition to losing an eye during his years there, he also suffered from a broken tail, gnarled toes and heart disease. Despite his health problems, Harley thrived with his new family and went on to raise awareness for puppy mill dogs. In the fall, he was named the American Hero Dog of 2015 by the American Humane Association. "Harley was a little dog with a big mission," said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane Association. "His work and his mission will live on, and his legacy will be to inspire all of us to work together and make a better world for our best friends.” — Read it at Today

Are you an AVMA member living in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island or Vermont? If so, you still have time to vote in the AVMA Board of Directors District 1 election, and we urge you to … read more >

It was both humbling and inspiring for the AVMA to host so many passionate people who gathered a few weeks back for our first-ever wellness roundtable. A group of about 40 from across the profession, led by a professional facilitator, … read more >

Maggie Chu, a third-year veterinary student at Cornell University, attended the 8th AVMA Legislative Fly-In because she wants to get more involved with her future profession. “I want to shape my profession to be better than what it is. Maybe that … read more >

March 18, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: SeaWorld Orca

SeaWorld to End Orca Breeding Program

Just days after the announcement that SeaWorld’s most famous orca, Tilikum, is in declining health, SeaWorld has decided to end its orca breeding program and “focus on rescue and rehabilitation of marine animals in distress,” according to a statement. “This is a first, massive step forward toward a more humane future for SeaWorld,” said Naomi Rose, marine mammal scientist at the Animal Welfare Institute and formerly with the HSUS. “I welcome these commitments from (SeaWorld CEO) Joel Manby. He has given SeaWorld a new lease on life.” — Read it at Discovery News

Cats Stranded By High Flood Waters

Firefighters came to the rescue of two cats when high flood waters in Sacramento, Calif. trapped them in trees half-submerged in the Sacramento River. Using a small boat and a ladder, the rescue workers were able to get the cats back on dry ground. Both felines are safe and uninjured by the ordeal.  — Read it at KXAN

Woman and Gator Inseparable

For 11 years Mary Thorn has lived in Florida with her best friend — a 6-foot-tall, 125-pound alligator named Rambo. But the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission mandates a gator of his size must have 2.5 acres available to roam and is considering removing the animal from her care. Thorn, who has a permit for the animal, says Rambo is no ordinary alligator: He has a sunlight sensitivity and can’t be outdoors for an extended period of time. Thorn is looking for other options for Rambo while the case is under investigation, including getting him certified as a therapy animal. “Without him, I don't feel like even wanting to go on,” she said. — Read it at People Pets

Image: Dog Ate Stuffed Polar Bear

Stuffed Polar Bear Found in Dog’s Stomach

After a New Mexico dog vomited and felt ill for a week, the dog’s owners knew something wasn’t right. They took the dog, Honey, to a veterinarian who performed surgery and found a 6-inch-wide, 2-inch-long stuffed polar bear in Honey’s stomach. The dog was released on Tuesday and is doing fine. "We're so happy we were able to help her out — a couple more days and she would not have made it,” according to a post on Sante Fe Humane Society’s Facebook page. — Read it at  Fox 5 NY

Polar Bears Break Free at Zoo

Cincinnati Zoo patrons were temporarily detained indoors Wednesday as officials dealt with two polar bears who managed to escape their containment area and enter a behind-the-scenes area — though they were never actually loose in the zoo. "The bears entered an inappropriate area but did not leave the building and the public was never at risk,” says zoo director Thane Maynard. Necessary protocols were followed and there were no injuries to the bears, zoogoers or zookeepers. — Read it at USA Today

Imagine going on a house call without a critical tool in your medical bag. That’s essentially what federal law required many veterinarians to do before the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act was signed in 2014. The law made it legal for … read more >

AVMA officials have contacted the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs directly to impress upon it the importance of retaining veterinary access to ketamine in advance of a meeting that will address the matter this week in Austria. In April … read more >

The 2016 SAVMA Symposium will be held March 17-19 at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. The AVMA will be holding a few events during the conference, and we’ll also have a booth in the exhibit hall. Our booth, along … read more >

As veterinarians, we spend considerable time promoting wellness for our patients; too often we don’t follow our own prescription. As a profession, it’s time for us to take a step back and consider wellness for ourselves. That’s why it’s important … read more >

If you’re like other members who’ve contacted us in the last 24 hours, you’re concerned that veterinarians’ home addresses are being shared on a veterinary search and review site. Publishing this information could put veterinarians at risk, and understandably feels … read more >

How many times in a day do you see patients whose medical conditions could have been treated more successfully, or even avoided, if you’d been able to evaluate the pet or start treatment earlier? How many times do you encounter … read more >

March 4, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Zeus rescued from pond

Owner Captures Rescue on Video

When Zeus jumped the fence in back of his New Hampshire home and fell through the ice into a pond, his panicked owner immediately called 911. Firefighters from Derry quickly arrived, and one slid out onto the thin ice to get to the dog, who was terrified and clinging to the ice with his two front paws. Zeus’ owner, Bernadette Trafton, captured the scene on video and can be heard yelling to the dog — who wasn’t thrilled to see his rescuer — that it was OK. Firefighter Jay Case and the 1-year-old dog were then pulled back to the safety of the shore. “When the firefighters got there, I was so relieved that I knew he was going to be OK,” Trafton said. She says she plans to get a higher fence now to keep Zeus inside, and the fire department emphasizes that she did the right thing by calling them for help. — Read it at New Hampshire’s WMUR

Cat Found 1,500 Miles From Home

A 2-year-old Russian Blue cat from Wisconsin is back home after a winter break in Florida. The adopted indoor cat escaped from her home on Christmas Eve after the back door blew open. Her owner, Cheri Stocker, “thought the worst” when there was a snowstorm, followed by bitter cold temperatures. But two months later, an animal shelter in Naples, Florida, called Stocker saying they’d found Nadia. Flight attendants with Allegiant Air offered to fly her home, and the Stockers were reunited with Nadia in Illinois. "My husband picked her up first, and I think she recognized us," Stocker said. "She nuzzled right into his neck." The Stockers aren’t sure how Nadia got to Florida, but they suspect she may have climbed into a trailer at a truck stop near their home. — Read it at USA Today

Snowy Owl Delivers Detailed GPS Data

Since he was first tagged with a GPS transmitter a year ago, Baltimore, an adult male snowy owl, has flown more than 6,200 miles. “The information we’ve gotten from Baltimore is by far the most detailed record of the movements of any snowy owl ever tagged,” said David F. Brinker, a biologist with Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources. The data showed Baltimore wintered in Maryland and New Jersey then headed north through Manhattan to Lake Ontario. He reached the northern tip of Ungava Peninsula, about 300 miles below the Arctic Circle. Once the cold became too much, he turned south, and he’s now back in Maryland. Scientists expect him to head back north again soon, and think he may be starting a family in the near future. — Read it at Discovery News

Image: Lakers Kobe Bryant dog name

Bryant Gives Sneakers to Kids Who Guessed Dog’s Name

While he was benched with a shoulder injury at the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, some kids sitting near Kobe Bryant asked him about his dog. So, he made them an offer. “They wanted to know what the name of my pet dog was so I gave them a clue,” Bryant told The Denver Post. “I said, ‘It’s in a [Harry] Potter film.’ So every time, they threw out like 15 names. The deal was if they got it, I’d give them my shoes. And they got it.” The black Labrador Retriever’s name is Crucio, which is a reference to one of the three Unforgivable Curses in the series. The Lakers delivered on his promise, taking off his shoes and signing them before giving them to the young fans.  — Read it at Time

Pandas Get Grand Welcome in South Korea

On loan from China for 15 years, two giant pandas made their arrival in Seoul this week to lots of pomp and circumstance. The airport ceremony was led by a marching band and people dressed in panda costumes, and the paparazzi was there to capture it all on camera. Ai Bao, a 2-year-old female, and Le Bao, 3-year-old male, will be residents at Everland amusement park. — Watch it at the U.K.’s Telegraph

The Reaching UP program, which engages veterinarians to improve access to veterinary care among traditionally underserved Native American populations, is looking for a few veterinarians to volunteer their time for two or four days at upcoming clinics in New Mexico. … read more >

If you’re heading to Las Vegas for the Western Veterinary Conference (WVC, March 6-10), we’d enjoy seeing you at our booth in the exhibit hall (Booth 1030). Staff will be available to answer questions and listen to your concerns on … read more >

Do you have an interest in helping maintain the high standards of veterinary education? Ever considered volunteering for your national veterinary association? In August 2016, terms are ending for two positions on the Council on Education: the Private Mixed Clinical … read more >