* The Association of American Veterinary Colleges (AAVMC) has established the Senator John Melcher DVM Leadership in Public Policy Award to be given annually to a current or former faculty or staff member at an AAVMC member institution. Senator John Melcher, an advocate for veterinary medicine on Capitol Hill at the White House, was the first recipient. Press release 3/8/07
* A Veterinary Pet Insurance survey indicates that pets have moved from the backyard to the bedroom: 56% of respondents reported that their pet sleeps right next to them every night while only 1% said their pet sleeps outside. PRNewswire 2/8/07
* Can birds plan ahead? Experiments done at the University of Cambridge suggest they can. Birds stored snacks when they detected that food would be in short supply and also planned for a balanced diet by storing combinations of foods in different places. LiveScience 2/21/07
* Digital cameras already remove red eye in photos of humans. However, animal eyes reflect light differently creating an eerie glow. A new camera from Hewlett-Packard can now remove animal "glow eye" as well as blemishes and wrinkles in photos of humans. Press Release 3/11/07
* Of the 750 respondents to a recent American Kennel Club dog owners study-a majority of whom were female-42% said they own a dog to enhance their personal health and reduce stress. The top activity enjoyed by dog owners is a good old-fashioned walk. Dog ownership also heavily influenced purchasing habits-owners considered their pets 47% of the time when purchasing a car. PRNewswire 2/11/07
