Homes Needed for 4,000 Beagles Rescued From Research Lab
Four thousand beagles are in search of loving homes after being rescued from a research facility in Virginia.
The puppies were allegedly bred to be sold to laboratories for animal experimentation.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) reported that federal inspections revealed the dogs had been living in unsanitary conditions, were not given enough food or adequate veterinary care, and some had been euthanized without anesthesia.
The HSUS’s chief animal rescue, care, and sanctuary officer, Miguel Abi-Hassan, said: “These dogs have lived their lives in a massive breeding facility riddled with Animal Welfare Act violations… We are so grateful for the opportunity to work with our shelter and rescue partners to give these beagles a new life.”
The facility was announced closed last month.
The dogs will be put up for adoption via the Human Society of the United States’ shelter and rescue partners over the next 60 days.
Find out more here.
‘Global vet shortage’ Blamed For Closure of Practice
Alexander Vets, a UK-based veterinary practice, is blaming global veterinary shortages and the ‘huge’ increase in pet ownership for the closure of one of its surgeries in Ulverston.
A spokesperson for Alexander Vets said: “Following the huge increase in pet ownership and a global shortage of qualified veterinary surgeons, the Alexander Vets team has had to take the difficult decision to temporarily close our Ulverston practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 28, with limited services on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays…
“We are continuing our search for additional vets to join the practice, and aim to reopen the practice normally as soon as we are able.”
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WSAVA Signs up for PrideVMC Gender Identity Bill of Rights
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has signed up to the Gender Identity Bill of Rights (GIBOR) which was created by the Pride Veterinary Medical Community (PrideVMC) in order to address inequalities and inequities of LGBTQIA+ veterinary professionals in the profession.
In a statement, Dr. Siraya Chunekamrai (WSAVA president), said:
“Today’s world is an inclusive world, and it is high time that we recognised the contribution of every single member of our profession while supporting them in living as their true selves,”
“I am delighted to sign the GIBOR on behalf of the WSAVA and our global veterinary community.
“All WSAVA members have a role to play in building a culture of diversity, equality and inclusion so I urge our member associations and, indeed, our 200,000 individual members, to follow our lead in supporting equal rights for all members of our profession,” Dr. Chunekamrai added.
“By joining together in solidarity, we will ensure that the veterinary profession harnesses the talents of all of its individual members and has a firm foundation on which it can build a successful and sustainable future.”
Find out more here.
RCVS President, Dr. Melissa Donald, Promises To Listen
The newly appointed president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), Dr. Melissa Donald, has promised to spend much of her time, in her 1-year tenure, listening to veterinary professionals. Dr. Donald hopes through communication with professionals and communities in the UK, she will be able to gain a better understanding of the issues they face.
In her opening speech as RCVS President, Melissa said:
“My mother has offered me many wise words over the years, most frequently being ‘engage brain before opening mouth’ but just as important as speaking is listening and actually hearing what is being said.
“So, over this year I will try to get out and about as much as possible, focus on hearing what our community is saying and engage in many conversations as we work together.”
Find out more here.
Veterinary Heroes™ Winner Shares Why Emergency Care Is Special
Emergency care veterinarian, Dr. Elizabeth Rozasnki, has been awarded the 2022 Veterinary Heroes™ award in the Emergency Medicine category. All winners of the award are set to be honored on Thursday, August 25, 2022, at the Fetch DVM360 conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
In an interview with DVM360, Dr. Elizabeth said:
“[Receiving the Veterinary Heroes™ award] was super exciting. I mean, honestly, I’ve been doing ER for a long time. I think that anybody in ER now is a hero, just given the last couple years of what we’ve been dealing with and the, the pandemic and all the changes in veterinary care… So I think everyone in ER is a hero. I was super excited to hear it; I’m really, really honored.”
Watch the full interview here.
3 Ways to Create Wellness In the Workplace
Wellness at work is often a hot topic! It’s a well-known fact that employees who are happy and healthy, are more productive that their counterparts. Employee satisfaction has also been shown to impact employee retention, recruitment of talent, and even the return on investment (ROI). With this, workplaces are keen, more than ever, to create wellness initiatives to motivate their team.
So how can you create wellness in your workplace?
- Create mental health initiatives
Mental well-being is vital for all, especially veterinarians!
There are numerous ways workplaces can create mental wellness initiatives, such as free of discounted therapy sessions, mindfulness, or meditation classes to help employees to destress as well as build brand reputation and staff happiness.
- Healthy snacks
Offering healthy snacks in the workplace, such as fruit deliveries, has been proven to help employee concentration and productivity!
Creating healthy eating initiatives can be valuable in creating employee wellness and making sure the team has energy for the day.
- Social events
Social events are another great way to create workplace wellness. Social events encourage employees to develop relationships with their co-workers, which in turn can create a better working environment, more understanding for one another, and even boost morale.
