Did Colorado Parks and Wildlife have to kill that “pet” fox? They say yes, and here’s why

A Colorado Springs woman kept a fox as a pet for at least two years—pictures on her Instagram account showed the fox wearing a collar and eating human snacks. And last week, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) seized and euthanized the fox. This didn’t sit well with a lot of people. Some wondered whether CPW attempted to place the fox with a facility like Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Denver Zoo, or another facility instead of euthanizing him. And at least one person asked if CPW could educate the woman on how to care for a fox, vaccinate it, and let him live in captivity. The CPW said they had to put the fox down because it could not survive on its own if released back into the wild. And the agency doesn’t typically work with sanctuaries when a wild animal is discovered in captivity. . . . more

Four ways veterinary medicine is fighting COVID-19 at MSU

The fight against COVID-19 and the race to learn more about it are front and center on the global stage. Educators, scientists, and clinicians at the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Veterinary Medicine are hard at work protecting animal and human health in four key areas: public health, education, research, and pet healthcare. Near or far, medical professionals have come together throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it be in terms of developing best practices to protect MSU healthcare workers or sharing personal protective equipment with Lansing, Michigan, hospitals, members of the MSU medical community have been united. . . . more

New Texas Tech veterinary school preparing to open next year

The idea for the veterinary school started back in the 1970s, but nothing was done until 2014. Now, in almost exactly one year, the building will be ready to welcome the first class of the new Texas Tech Veterinary School of Medicine. Guy H. Loneragan, BVSc, PhD, the dean of the new school, says this program will be unique because the building is being designed for the curriculum they plan to instate: “Our program is designed to be very hands-on. Students will spend more time [training] than in the classroom, so it’s really designed around a very modern curriculum.” The school has hired 24 professors and will hire a total of 70 as the program progresses. They expect to get the school accredited early this fall, and once they receive accreditation, they will begin accepting applications through December. . . . more

COVID concerns would impact sheltering protocols during a hurricane

Tropical Storm Isaias brought home the realization that sheltering in the 2020 hurricane season will be impacted differently by COVID-19. Large-group sheltering didn’t need to be implemented this time, but prior to the storm, Ocean County, Florida, emergency management officials issued a press release that pandemic-related precautions would be implemented in shelters. “There’s no question that COVID-19 will make storm preparations more challenging,” said John P. Kelly, director of law and public safety for Ocean County. “However, our Office of Emergency Management has already made plans on how to deal with pandemic safeguards during any evacuations.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidelines for how local agencies should prepare for a storm-related disaster. . . . more

FDA approves canine congestive heart failure chews

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Cardalis (spironolactone and benazepril hydrochloride chewable tablets) for use with other medications (e.g., diuretics) for the management of the clinical signs of mild, moderate or severe congestive heart failure in dogs due to a form of heart disease in dogs known as atrioventricular valvular insufficiency, which can lead to congestive heart failure. When dogs suffer from congestive heart failure, their hearts are unable to pump sufficient blood to the rest of the dog’s body. . . . . more