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Denver upholds pitbull ban, Texas shelter dismantles its gas chamber, and a lions death spurs calls for an exotic pet ban in Indiana.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) On-Site Consultation Program is a popular, mostly risk-free way for small businesses to obtain help identifying workplace hazards, advice on OSHA compliance, and assistance in establishing safety and health protocols. OSHA conducted more than 30,000 visits to small businesses under the program in the last fiscal year alone. The program is voluntary, confidential and free, and is completely separate from OSHA’s enforcement staff, so it does not result in penalties or citations. Participants may also qualify for exemptions from OSHA inspections for several years after the consultation. In effect, businesses that have demonstrated a willingness to work with and comply with agency safety regulations are rewarded with the exemptions. However, changes proposed by OSHA would limit the amount of time that a business is exempt following a consultation, and would also broaden OSHA’s power to investigate businesses even if they qualified for the exemptions. Critics say that the changes could remove the incentives for small businesses to take part in the program, resulting in poorer all-around workplace health and safety awareness.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) issued a statement In response to the passage of a new puppy mill law in Missouri.

The U.S. Senate has taken a step toward banning the selling of videos that show the abuse and killing of animals, known as "crush videos."

A federal report on Animal Welfare Act (AWA) violations details multiple alleged infractions by a major U.S. airline company that resulted in the deaths of at least 16 animals between 2007 and 2009. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released its monthly "Recent Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protection Act Enforcement Actions" on the APHIS website. The report lists administrative complaints that were filed against alleged violators of the AWA, as well as a list of those who agreed to pay fines to APHIS for alleged violations of the act.

Missouri voters approved the state’s Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act on Nov. 2 by a narrow margin.

Election Day was mixed for veterinarians running for office across the country.

Two huge drug manufacturers could be getting ready to sell off some animal health assets, worth some $1 billion, later this year.

Delaware has enacted a set of new regulations that puts increased restrictions on owners of exotic animals. The state Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health and Food Products Inspection adopted the regulations last month, and they became effective Dec. 28. The regulations give the state veterinarian the authority to grant, deny or revoke permits for people wishing to own, sell, display or rehabilitate an exotic animal. The regulation defines “exotic” as “a live wild mammal, hybrid of a wild mammal, and a live reptile not native to or generally found in Delaware. An exotic animal is ecologically foreign to Delaware.” The regulations make exceptions for certain exotics.

The city of Houston is attempting to enforce a decades-old law regarding a veterinarian’s role in pet licensing, but the law is meeting with opposition from many of the city’s veterinarians. The ordinance, passed in 1985, states that veterinarians who vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies must either provide owners’ information to the city’s Bureau of Animal regulation and Care (BARC), or issue the licenses themselves. Houston veterinarians received a letter from the city’s Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department in late September. The letter reminded veterinarians that according to the city ordinance (Chapter 6 of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances), all dogs and cats must be licensed in Houston. The letter explains that according to the ordinance, veterinarians who vaccinate any dog or cat within Houston city limits must either: License the animal while acting as a deputy licensing authority at the time of the administration of the vaccine; orProvide a copy of the fully executed vaccination certificate to the Houston Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care with the following information: Description of the dog or catIf the animal has been spayed/neuteredNumber on the rabies vaccination tag issuedName and address of the ownerNumber of the Houston registration tag, if any The letter threatens steep penalties for veterinarians who do not comply with the ordinance.