February 15, 2021
In Short
Los Angeles greenlights city-funded TNR
The city of Los Angeles is moving ahead with a trap-neuter-return program after an environmental impact report concluded the program is not a significant threat to the environment.
The city council’s unanimous approval of the EIR on Dec. 10, 2020, clears the way to use municipal funds for the Citywide Cat Program, on hold since 2009 pending a court-ordered review. Several birder organizations had sued to halt the program.
It is anticipated that at least 20,000 feral and unowned cats in Los Angeles will be spayed or neutered annually through the program. By sterilizing 20,000 free-roaming cats each year for 30 years, the births of more than 1.2 million unowned kittens will be prevented, the report states.
The EIR directs the city to develop a public education and outreach program to discourage outdoor feeding of free-roaming cats, a practice that attracts nuisance wildlife.
Pilot therapy group created for veterinarians
A pilot program is available for veterinarians that aims to provide help with mental health issues they experience.
The Shanti Project, a San Francisco–based nonprofit that works with underserved members of the community, has created the Veterinary Mental Health, Support, and Resiliency Group. Shanti describes the group as “an empathetic and supportive space to understand how your peers are persisting through similar challenges,” with an emphasis on processing stress and grief, learning effective coping skills, implementing a healthier work-life balance, and renewing a love for veterinary medicine.
Five to 10 veterinarians will participate in a virtual hourlong session each week for 10 consecutive weeks. These sessions will be facilitated by clinical psychologists with expertise in grief and loss, career development, and trauma. The group is free thanks to an anonymous donor.
The organization will begin offering first-come, first-served drop-in groups later this spring.
For more information, email klawlor
shanti [dot] org (Dr. Katie Lawlor) or visit the Shanti Project online.
Shanti also partners with Pets Are Wonderful Support, which provides support services for pets of seniors and individuals living with disability or illness.
Aflatoxin-contaminated food kills dozens of dogs
More than 70 dogs died of confirmed or suspected aflatoxin poisoning after eating Sportmix pet food.
A national recall includes bags of dog and cat foods sold under the Sportmix, Nunn Better, Pro Pac, and Splash Fat Cat labels, according to the Food and Drug Administration. As of Jan. 11, all of the deaths and illnesses had been linked with the Sportmix brand.
FDA officials announced Jan. 11 that a recall issued in December 2020 for the Sportmix pet foods was expanded to include more than 1,000 lots of pet foods made at Midwestern Pet Foods’ Oklahoma plant. In addition to the known deaths, more than 80 other dogs became sick after eating Sportmix foods, although some suspected poisonings lacked confirmation through laboratory testing or veterinary record review.
The recall affects all foods that contain corn; expire by July 9, 2022; and were made in the Oklahoma plant, which is designated as “05” in a code on bags. Pet food that expires March 3, 2022, and was made in the Oklahoma plant, for example, would have a lot code beginning with “EXP 03/03/22/05,” according to an example from the FDA.
Details are available in the FDA Alert.