PAWPRINTS

Archive for February, 2008

From The Edmonton Journal: Saturday, February 16

Staffed by two veterinarians and several technicians who have taken special training, the newly opened Edmonton Veterinary Rehabilitation Clinic only accepts patients referred by other veterinarians. It is the first Alberta facility devoted exclusively to physical veterinary rehabilitation to be licensed by the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association.

The clinic offers dog and cat owners many of the benefits similar to those a physical therapist might offer a human, such as hydrotherapy, massage and special exercise programs. While each treatment may be slightly different, the first assessment and treatment in the underwater treadmill costs $75, with additional treatments costing $40 for 10 minutes. Owners, naturally, must foot the bill and the treatments may not be covered by pet health insurance.

The therapies at the clinic are designed for pets recovering from muscle or bone injuries or surgeries, including amputation, those with nerve damage, arthritis, joint injuries or suffering from chronic pain.

American Humane Association  DENVER, Feb. 13  /PRNewswire-USNewswire 

The American Humane Association, the leading organization raising awareness about The Link(R) between animal abuse and other forms of violence, has created the first national initiative to promote on-site housing of pets at women’s shelters and to acknowledge the human-animal bond, which can be crucial to recovery after a crisis. American Humane has published a Pets and Women’s Shelters (PAWS) Program manual to help shelters assess their needs and provide step-by-step instructions for implementing the program.  The ultimate goal of PAWS is to enable more domestic violence victims to leave abusive households without leaving their pets behind and at risk. In a study done in 2007 in 12 Link-based research studies, results indicated that between 18 and 48 percent of women reported concerns regarding their pets’ safety, and had either delayed leaving abusive homes or remained in abusive homes out of fear of leaving their pets behind. 

The PAWS Program acknowledges the unfortunate link between human violence and animal cruelty. But it also recognizes the healing bond pets can provide to people who have endured trauma. American Humane encourages all domestic and family violence shelters across the country to take the necessary steps toward implementing the PAWS Program at their facilities.  

Founded in 1877, the American Humane Association is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Through a network of child and animal protection agencies and individuals, American Humane develops policies, legislation, curricula and training programs to protect children and animals from abuse, neglect and exploitation. The nonprofit membership organization, headquartered in Denver, raises awareness about The Link(R) between violence to people and violence to animals, as well as the benefits derived from the human-animal bond. 

American Humane’s regional office in Los Angeles is the authority behind the “No Animals Were Harmed”(R) end-credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, and American Humane’s office in Washington, D.C., is an advocate for child and animal protection at the federal and state levels. 

Visit http://www.americanhumane.org/ to learn more.