|
|
||
|
|
E- Source An electronic
newsletter highlighting veterinary issues for |
|
|
August 6, 2004 Volume II, Number 4 |
||
|
In This Issue · Dr. Mahr Announces for National Office · Universal Scanners · Coalition For Reuniting Pets & Families · 2004 Graduate Membership Category of Links §
ISVMA Membership Application Contact Us |
Dr. Roger Mahr
Announces Candidacy for AVMA President Elect A Message from
ISVMA President, Dr. Wesley G. Bieritz: There are select times when the accomplishments of a
colleague directly reflect upon the rest of us in the veterinary profession.
It was with pride and respect that participants at the recent American
Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) convention witnessed Dr. Roger Mahr’s official nomination as a candidate for the office
of President-elect of the AVMA. This is an exciting opportunity for us to talk with
our clients, friends and colleagues about the outstanding leadership
qualities that Roger will bring to the AVMA and how his leadership will
directly impact our profession in the State of Dr. Mahr will spend the next year traveling the
country to spread his message of commitment and unity of focus for the
veterinary profession. In July 2005, Dr. Mahr seeks to be officially elected
at the AVMA convention in Being elected to leadership in a national
organization comes with many responsibilities and opportunities. It also
comes at a high price to the candidate. In addition to the substantial time
commitment, there are numerous travel and incidental expenses that are not
reimbursed. We all know that Roger would quietly assume this responsibility
on his own, but wouldn’t it be a fantastic tribute to our own As president of the Illinois State Veterinary
Medical Association, I would like to personally ask you to consider
contributing to the Campaign Fund for Roger Mahr*. A contribution of $25, $50
or $100 to help pay for his un-reimbursed expenses will help Roger focus on
putting the national spotlight back on the State of *Please make
all contributions payable to the Washington, D.C. (August
5, 2004) — Caring families who microchip their pets to provide them with a
permanent ID may have a false sense of security, according to a recently
formed coalition of the nation’s leading animal care and control agencies,
humane societies and veterinary organizations. Why? Unfortunately,
today, not all pet identification microchips can be read by all scanners.
Competing technologies have become a barrier to the best efforts of animal
shelter The recently formed
Coalition for Reuniting Pets and Families is asking that chip and scanner
manufacturers and marketers permit the use of a scanner that can read all
microchips, and that such a scanner be made readily
available to shelters, animal control officers and veterinarians throughout
the country. “Existing microchipping technologies have the potential to quickly
and safely reunite lost dogs and cats with their families. But those who have
primary contact with lost pets — veterinarians, animal control officers, and
shelter Eight to 10 million pets
stray from their home each year in the Currently, more than two
million of the country’s dogs and cats have an implanted microchip that is
intended to increase their chances of being identified if they are lost.
Competing companies today supply chips with different frequencies that are
not detected by all scanners. Armstrong’s
organization, The HSUS, after hearing from shelter The Coalition
unanimously supported sending a letter to all of the current distributors and
manufacturers of microchips sold in the The Coalition’s letter
to all pet microchipping manufacturers and
distributors asked them to support a more robust nationwide animal recovery
system. The proposed system includes mass distribution of scanners that read
all chips, establishment of an easily updated national database of microchipped pets and ongoing pet owner education about
the need for registering microchipped pets and
continuing to use external identifications (e.g., collar and tags, tattoos,
etc.) to complement the chips. “We’re thrilled that the
veterinary, sheltering, and animal control communities have come together
with such consensus to tackle this issue and seize this opportunity,” said
Dr. Daniel Aja, president-elect of the American
Animal Hospital Association. “This would be a great win for all: Pet owners
would enjoy greater peace of mind; shelters, animal control officers and
veterinarians would have a more efficient system to help pets find their way
home; and pet microchip companies would realize increased sales with the
increase in consumer confidence about the benefits the industry can provide.” For more information,
visit http://www.readallchips.com. For more information,
contact: What is the
Coalition for Reuniting Pets and Families? Each year, animal
shelters take in millions of stray cats and dogs, most of whom never find
their way home. Pet microchipping has the potential
to save the lives of millions of these lost dogs and cats, but the wide
variety of chip technologies on the marketplace has instead created confusion
and missed opportunities. For example, an owner
who has conscientiously decided to chip her animal still has no guarantee
that her pet, if lost, will ever return home. That’s because, in the current A group of leading What is the Coalition
doing to create this improved national companion animal recovery system? In addition, the
Coalition is calling for the establishment of an easily updated national
database of microchipped pets and an ongoing pet
owner education effort about the need for registering chipped pets and
continuing to use external IDs (collar and tags) to complement the chips. What are the Coalition’s
next steps? Who are the members of
the Coalition? Currently, only 30 graduates of the veterinary
class of 2004 have availed themselves of their complimentary first-year
membership in ISVMA. It is very simple to join – fill out the
application form at www.isvma.org/application.htm
or call the ISVMA office to have an application form faxed to your clinic. Every viable organization has its function that
makes it unique and valuable. In
veterinary medicine we have associations that provide affordable,
high-quality continuing education. We
have others that provide member benefit programs that veterinary practices
need to conduct business efficiently.
Others provide timely information that keeps you abreast of important
developments in the profession. The
Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association provides you with all of these
things and something else that no other association offers. The veterinary profession
needs ISVMA and the ISVMA needs the participation of the state’s
veterinarians. Antagonists as well as
complementary, alternative and integrative therapy providers were building
legislative capacity at a time when participation in the ISVMA was
declining. Things are turning
around. ISVMA has added over 200 new members in 2004. The 2004 Annual Convention was more highly
attended than any in recent history and the evaluations from the meeting were
excellent. ISVMA is introducing new
programs like a discounted credit card processing service, the E-SOURCE
electronic newsletter, a completely redesigned Epitome and a dynamic new
website. The new website includes a
Members’ Only section with valuable information and downloads available only
to members, the ability to register for meetings on-line and pay with your
credit card, plus it affords a search function that will allow prospective
clients to search for ISVMA member veterinarians by county, zip-code, area
code, or even practice type.
Considering the fact that as many as 1700 people visit the ISVMA
website each day, your membership can easily be justified alone by the
exposure to prospective clients! ISVMA is encouraging
practice owners/managers to make membership in ISVMA a benefit of employment.
There is no wiser investment in the future of veterinary medicine in |
|
