In the News | The Humane Society of the United States

Jennifer Muller, DVM, an active HSVMA member and recipient of our first Veterinary Advocate of the Year award, was recently profiled in an article about her work as a veterinary advocate and house-call practitioner.
Paula Kislak, DVM, was recently interviewed for an article in Veterinary Practice News about a recent study regarding cat ownership.
Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, MRCVS, DACVB, a professor of veterinary medicine at Tufts University and animal behaviorist, was recently interviewed by a local paper regarding the Massachusetts bill that would ban the devocalization of dogs and cats.
Barbara Hodges, DVM, MBA, a veterinary consultant for HSVMA, was recently interviewed for an article in DVM Newsmagazine, discussing the increased awareness of animal welfare issues in the veterinary profession today.
Holly Cheever, DVM, vice president of the New York State Humane Association, was interviewed in the movie, Blinders, which recently won a Genesis Award for TV Documentary. Dr. Cheever has been diligently working on the issue of NYC's urban carriage horse trade since 1988.
Barbara Hodges, DVM, MBA, a veterinary consultant for HSVMA, was recently interviewed for an article in the Scoop online, discussing the painful cosmetic procedures of ear cropping and tail docking.
Susan Krebsbach, DVM, submitted an op-ed to The Oklahoman in response to the recent OSU School of Veterinary Medicine controversy.
Paula Kislak, DVM, was recently interviewed by a local news show about the rescue of a group of abandoned greyhounds from Guam. Listen to the broadcast here.
Nicholas Dodman, BVMS, MRCVS, DACVB, a professor of veterinary medicine at Tufts University and founding member of Veterinarians for Equine Welfare, continues his advocacy for equine welfare in a recent interview in DVM Newsmagazine on the issue of horse slaughter. Responding to opponents of a horse slaughter ban, Dodman states that the slaughter industry is "predatory and brutal" and adds that "any group or organization that supports it really needs to evaluate what they are all about." He also weighed in on the issue in this CBC News Investigation.
Paula Kislak, DVM, was active in the efforts to pass Proposition 2 in California. In addition to collecting signatures, Kislak also recruited other veterinary endorsements and spoke with the media on the issue. In October, she appeared at a press conference at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, along with Assemblyman Pedro Nava and other supporters, to speak about the threats to animal and human health posed by the intensive confinement of farm animals.
In an effort to control pet overpopulation and reduce the tragic number of animals euthanized in shelters, Kislak wrote an article in a local paper, as well as a letter to the editor encouraging the adoption of animals from shelters and support for spay/neuter ordinances.
Holly Cheever, DVM, vice president of the New York State Humane Association, took on the carriage horse industry in a recent letter to the editor where she responds to criticisms for her work to protect horses from arduous conditions. In another submitted letter, she takes the horse industry to task for racing horses too hard at a young age, following the tragic euthanasia of Eight Belles after the 2008 Kentucky Derby.
Gordon Stull, VMD, director of the Burlington County Feral Cat Initiative in New Jersey, was recently interviewed by Animal Sheltering magazine on the medical issues involved in feral cat management and how feral cat caretakers can best care for their colonies.
Larry Peetz, DVM, was featured in a article for The Humane Society of the United States, discussing his role in the veterinary community as an activist for animal welfare.
Barbara Hodges, DVM, MBA, a veterinary consultant for HSVMA, was interviewed by DVM magazine on reaction to the new AVMA policy on ear cropping, which takes a stronger stand against the procedure and urges breed clubs to eliminate ear cropping and tail docking from their standards. Dr. Hodges also submitted a letter to the editor of JAVMA, commending the AVMA for the stronger position, but pointing out that there is more to be done on other cosmetic and convenience procedures, such as declawing and devocalization.