Animal Careers

Interzoo 2012, the world's largest pet supply trade fair, will be held from May 17-20 in Nuremburg, Germany. The event is held every two years and attracts 1,500 exhibitors who present products to over 38,000 visitors from 115 countries.

Products and exhibits for 2012 will focus on a variety of areas including pet food technology, veterinary equipment, multimedia services, publications, aquariums and terrariums, pet grooming, cages, equine products, pet toys, technology, marketing services, and more.

The Interzoo event may be of particular interest to pet product sales representatives, pet boutique owners, pet designers, or others involved in the pet supply industry.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed a change to the Animal Welfare Act with respect to dog breeders who sell puppies over the internet. The new rule would require internet based sellers with more than four breeding females to either allow customers to visit their facilities or submit to USDA inspections and licensing.

This legislation is designed to ensure that breeding animals are healthy and not part of "puppy mill" operations. The change will not affect breeders that already operate from physical locations--only operations that did not previously allow puppy buyers to visit their facility will be affected.

The 2012 British Equine Veterinary Association Congress is offering early bird discounts to equine veterinarians and equine veterinary technicians who register by the end of July. The Congress will take place from September 12-15th in Birmingham, England. The BEVA event is promoted as the largest gathering of equine vets in Europe.

The Congress program includes equine medicine and surgery lectures, a trade show featuring innovative products, and a variety of networking and social events. Those interested in participating may register by visiting the BEVA site.

With one of the strongest fields in recent memory lining up to fill the starting gate, tomorrow's Kentucky Derby should be a memorable one. The 138th running of the prestigious event will again draw the finest trainers, owners, breeders, jockeys, and horses that the sport has to offer.

The Derby provides a great networking opportunity for those in the Thoroughbred industry, as a large percentage of equine professionals attend the event.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's animal identification plan has been put on the fast track for review by the White House. The national identification system is designed to allow government health officials to locate the farms from which sick animals originated so that they can identify and quarantine other potentially infected animals.

The plan's review has been expedited in light of the recent case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy ("mad cow" disease) that was identified in California. The animal identification program would require both dairy farmers and beef cattle farmers to tag and register cattle moved from one state to another.

Beef cattle farmers in the United States are bracing for any potential impact on the beef market resulting from the detection of a case of "mad cow disease" (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in California. The case represents the first incidence of BSE in six years, and only the fourth confirmed case in U.S. history.

Major importers of U.S. beef (such as Mexico, Canada, and Japan) have reassured officials that they plan to continue purchasing American beef products. These assurances seem to have eased fears of a plunge in export sales similar to what occurred in 2003, when beef export revenue decreased by over $3 billion dollars.

The University of Guelph in Canada is offering an online certificate program in equine welfare. This program may be of particular interest to barn managers, riding instructors, and other equine management professionals.

The Equine Welfare Certificate consists of six online courses. The four core courses are Equine Welfare, Global Perspectives in Equine Welfare, Equine Behavior, and Equine Nutrition. The two remaining courses are electives chosen from the following options: Health & Disease Prevention, Equine Industry, Equine Nutrition or Advanced Health through Nutrition, and Advanced Equine Functional Anatomy.

The New York State Senate has passed a bill that is designed to make pet theft a felony offense. Once it goes through the Assembly, the bill will provide much stronger protection for licensed dogs or cats (New York law previously required proof that a felony theft involved an item of property valued at over $1,000).

The American Kennel Club has reported a significant increase in stolen pet reports, up 49 percent from 2010 to 2011.

This new measure is being called the toughest pet theft law in the United States, carrying up to a four year prison sentence upon conviction. Animal rescue groups and responsible breeders are applauding the bill as it will protect pets from being stolen for use in dog-fighting, puppy mills, or other unacceptable purposes.

This week Rover.com announced plans to launch a major expansion after receiving a multi-million dollar infusion of cash from investors. Previously concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle-based pet sitting firm intends to offer its services nationwide.

Rover.com is a website that connects dog owners with pet sitters. Sitters may offer care in their own home or in the dog owner's home. Reviews of each sitter may be posted online.

The Rover.com concept is just one example of innovation in the rapidly expanding pet service industry. The American Pet Product Association projects that pet services (such as boarding and grooming) will account for $4.11 billion in revenue this year, up from $3.79 billion in 2011.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) will host the 2012 World Veterinary Congress from April 11-15th in Birmingham, England. The event has been billed as the largest veterinary event ever hosted in the United Kingdom.

The Congress schedule will include over 300 lectures and classes, a major commercial trade show, and a variety of social and networking events that will be of interest to small animal veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other animal health professionals.