Committee on the Human-Animal Bond up for early review

The AVMA Executive Board took action on various recommendations from the Governance Performance Review Committee, including a recommendation to move up the in-depth evaluation of the AVMA Committee on the Human-Animal Bond.

The GPRC conducted its annual performance evaluations of AVMA entities during its October meeting. Citing possible concerns with the CHAB's performance, the GPRC recommended moving up the CHAB's in-depth evaluation from 2012 to 2010.

Dr. W. Ron DeHaven, AVMA CEO, suggested moving the in-depth evaluation to 2011 instead.

In a comment on the GPRC recommendation, Dr. DeHaven wrote that the CHAB recently initiated several substantive projects. The projects include seeking collaboration with organizations that accredit service animals, developing a JAVMA article about animal hospice, providing input on a paper to assist veterinarians in responding to possible animal abuse, and developing a database of research on the human-animal bond.

Dr. DeHaven also noted that the board only recently approved a modification to the CHAB's charge, which is now more overarching.

The board took Dr. DeHaven's suggestion to move up the CHAB's in-depth evaluation to 2011.