Animal Welfare Symposium

CABI and UC Davis are offering 6 hours of CE credits for a one day animal welfare symposium on June 27, 2017. The symposium will be held at UC Davis, but remote attendance is also possible in webinar form. Topics will focus on the subject of animal behaviour problems and veterinary approaches to dealing with them. Further information available here: http://www.cabi.org/vetmedresource/animals-behaving-badly/

Volunteers Needed for 2017 Hawaii Pet Expo

May 13th-14th at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, corner of Ward Ave and King Street, Honolulu

Pet Expo is sponsored and organized by the HVMA. It has been an annual event for over 25 years and is FREE, and well received by the public, with an average of 10,000 people attending each year. The purpose of the Expo is to promote responsible pet ownership and strengthen the bond between people and their pets through educational displays, live animal demonstrations, and the latest in pet services and products. The HVMA is looking for veterinarians who will promote our profession in a positive manner and educate the public on the need for professional veterinary care. They are there to promote the HVMA and what we stand for, but can pass out business cards and information if asked for. We would like vets who are willing to volunteer their time to promote our profession and who are willing to interact with the public, to sign up.
1) HVMA Booth: This year we are doing away with the “Ask A Vet” booth, although vets manning the booth will be there to answer any kind of question. The HVMA booth will be similar to last year’s theme: Common Household Dangers.
2) Make and Take (Kiddie Craft ) Booth:  Assist kids and their parents with making finger puppets and other paper crafts, which they get to make and take home.  Keep booth clean and organized.
3) Greeters:  Pass out programs and poop bags at the door.  Help to direct traffic in and out of the Exhibition hall.  Smile and welcome people.  Collect canned goods and monetary donations for the Hawaii Food Bank.
4) Information Booth:  Help direct people to exhibits, answer questions, make announcements, box up food donations, make more poop bags, run errands, clean up pet messes that are reported or seen.
5) Show Marshalls:  The “Poop Patrol”.  Patrol Exhibition Hall and grounds outside, picking up pet messes.  Empty overflowing trash and cigarette bins outside hall and transfer to dumpster in back.  The good thing about show marshaling is that you get to walk around the hall and check out all the exhibits, although you are supposed to be working, not shopping during your shift!  We always need a lot of show marshals.

 

If volunteers sign up by the deadline, a t-shirt will be ordered for them. Sizes are M, L, and XL; please indicate shirt size when signing up. If you sign up vets are encouraged to wear lab coats or smocks to identify themselves as vet professionals, name tags will be provided. They may also wear the Pet Expo tshirt.
Volunteers are needed for Friday night to help set up. (No AC on Friday night, wear shorts!)
Saturday and Sunday the shifts are as follows: 9:30-12:00 am, 11:30 to 2:00 pm, and 1:30 to 4:00 pm. Only the first shift will be provided a small lunch.
Volunteers should sign up by calling Dr. Kam or staff at Ohana Vet Hospital at 845-1762, or fax at 848-1632.

Passing of Allen Y. Miyahara, DVM

We are sorry to report that Dr. Allen Yasuki Miyahara, 88, a doctor of veterinary medicine for the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and an Army veteran, died at home on April 2, 2016. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Sue K.

Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday April 27 at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Visitation: 5 pm. Services: 6 pm. Casual attire. No flowers. No monetary offerings.

Dr. Miyahara was a pioneer in the veterinary field, and established many veterinary organizations including the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the University of Hawaii pre-veterinary student program, and Human-Animal Bond programs in both Hawaii and Japan. He served as Vice President of the American Veterinary Medical Association, re-vitalizing the position by directly connecting with each veterinary school campus and passing on his vision of a strong, united veterinary profession.

We are grateful for his mentorship and countless contributions to our profession both locally and internationally.

Got Loans? USDA Offers Some Relief

Do you have an interest in food animal practice? Here’s an opportunity to support local farmers, protect our island community’s food supply, and help shape the future of Hawaii agriculture.

The USDA will fund two positions in Hawaii as part of their Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program. Participants can receive up to $25,000 per year toward repayment of student loans in exchange for working in underserved regions of Kauai and Oahu.

The application process is expected to open in mid-April. We will post the information here when it becomes available. In the meantime, you can call with any questions:

JASON D. MONIZ, D.V.M.
Program Manager, Animal Disease Control Branch
Division of Animal Industry
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
(808) 483-7106

Veterinary Technician Bill Up for Hearing – Request to Submit Testimony

As this year’s legislative process begins, our Veterinary Technician bill is up for hearing this Wednesday, Feb 3rd. Please submit your testimony to support recognizing our vet techs by Tuesday, Feb 2nd. If you have questions about this bill, please contact Eric Ako (akoe002@hawaii.rr.com).

Link to bill for info and for online testimony submission: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1955&year=2016

The Senate version of the bill (SB2671) does not currently have a hearing scheduled but is accessible at: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2671&year=2016