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Spring has made its way to Portland, and ACC&D has several projects in full swing. Beyond planning for our largest Symposium to date (June 20-22, 2013), we're pleased to announce the release of a free e-book on non-surgical sterilization and contraception, as well as to update you on our work to improve marking techniques for managing free-roaming animal populations. Here's the scoop:
As always, thank you for your support of ACC&D and commitment to the development of non-surgical options for canine and feline fertility control. We look forward to seeing you in June!
Sincerely,
Joyce Briggs, President
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FIFTH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM: CATCH OUR EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION
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Join us for the 5th International Symposium on Non-Surgical Contraceptive Methods of Pet Population Control, June 20-22, in Portland, Oregon, U.S. Register here by April 20 for early bird pricing.
This upcoming Symposium will be our largest yet, with more than 50 presenters from 15 countries and 6 continents. Over half will be speaking at an ACC&D Symposium for the first time, a sure sign of growing interest and expertise in the field. Our keynote speaker is Dr. David Grimm, Online News Editor for Science, the world's largest journal of science news and scientific research. In his 2009 Science article, "A Cure for Euthanasia?", Dr. Grimm helped advance knowledge of the quest to develop a non-surgical feline and canine sterilant on the global stage. He will soon publish a book on the evolving status of cats and dogs in society.
Additional speakers include Betsy Banks Saul, President & Co-founder, Petfinder.com; Dr. Gail Golab, Director, Animal Welfare Division, AVMA; Dr. Shirley Johnston, Scientific Director, Michelson Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology, Found Animals Foundation; Dr. Julie Levy, Director, Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program, University of Florida; Betsy McFarland, Vice President, Companion Animals, The HSUS; Dr. Linda Rhodes, Chief Scientific Officer, Aratana Therapeutics; Dr. Charles Rupprecht, Director of Research, Global Alliance for Rabies Control; Dr. Steve Zawistowski, Science Advisor, ASPCA and Board Chair, ACC&D; and many, many more. 
Two symposium tracks and myriad sessions are designed to maximize value to diverse stakeholders: veterinarians, scientists, researchers, animal health industry representatives, animal welfare professionals, animal sheltering experts, public health officials, dog and cat fanciers, funders and investors, and wildlife professionals alike.
ACC&D's 5th International Symposium takes place at a critical juncture in this field. Zeuterin, the first FDA-approved non-surgical sterilant for male dogs, is scheduled to be commercially available in the U.S. in mid-2013. (As a complement to the Symposium, Ark Sciences will offer a Zeuterin training and certification for veterinarians and veterinary technicians on June 23.) It has been five years since Found Animals and the Michelson Prize & Grants in Reproductive Biology committed $75 million to the pursuit of a single-dose, safe, effective non-surgical sterilant for male and female cats and dogs. Thanks to Michelson support, we're seeing major advances in multiple areas: "silencing" genes necessary for reproduction, immunocontraception, targeted delivery of Cytotoxins (substances with toxic effects on certain cells), and some other unique approaches. Several of the scientists conducting groundbreaking research will speak at the symposium, as will many members of the veterinary and animal welfare communities who are taking this research to the field.
The Symposium has been approved by the AAVSB RACE program for 11.5 hours of continuing education (CE) credit in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB RACE approval. The Zeuterin certification training has been approved for an additional 5 CE credit hours.
We couldn't do this without our terrific Symposium sponsors (scroll down for list). Please consider joining them; sponsorship opportunities are still available!
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ACC&D's NEW E-BOOK
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 Download our new E-book "
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Do you have questions about different approaches to non-surgical contraception and sterilization? Want a primer before attending the Symposium? If yes, download our  hot-off-the-presses e-book, Contraception and Fertility Control in Dogs and Cats. This free, 154-page text is the definitive reference guide to the dynamic field of non-surgical methods and research to manage reproduction in cats and dogs.
ACC&D commissioned this report with a generous grant from PetSmart Charities®. We are grateful to Katherine Moldave, MBA (ACC&D Scientific Advisor), for her primary authorship; Dr. Linda Rhodes (ACC&D Board of Directors) for contributing to writing and review; and the 14 additional ACC&D Scientific Advisors, ACC&D Board members, and field experts who contributed many invaluable insights.
Whether a researcher, veterinarian, animal welfare advocate, or animal sheltering professional, don't pass up this extraordinary resource. In particular, we recommend that you take a look before coming to our 5th International Symposium. It will help you gain maximum benefit from the event's presentations, research updates, and networking opportunities with key leaders in the field.
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POSTER PRESENTATION DEADLINE EXTENDED
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Come Share Your Research, Talent, and Dedication!
| | If you are involved in research on non-surgical contraception or sterilization, share your work at the 5th International Symposium Poster Session! The deadline for poster applications has been extended to Friday, May 10, 2013. Access the application on our Symposium webpage or download the the poster application here.
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SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS
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ACC&D's 1st International Veterinary Student Contest
The application period just closed for ACC&D's contest for three veterinary students, residents, or interns to win a fully paid trip to our 5th International Symposium. We received an impressive 38 applications representing 26 U.S. and international veterinary schools. We'll announce winners on May 1. In the meantime we can say with certainty that we are thrilled by the talent of future leaders in the field of non-surgical sterilization.
Many thanks to Aratana Therapeutics for supporting this contest.
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MAKING A MARK: NEW IDEAS FOR IDENTIFYING FREE-ROAMING, STERILIZED ANIMALS
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For years, ear tipping has been a universal way to permanently identify sterilized and vaccinated feral cats. The procedure occurs under anesthesia at the time of surgery. Dogs often receive a small green tattoo, also under anesthesia, when sterilized. This is practiced in both shelters in the U.S. and  free-roaming dog population management programs internationally.
What happens, though, when contraception is performed without anesthesia? What if we want to know more about a cat than simply whether he or she is able to reproduce? What if caretakers want to identify the sterilization status of a female dog from a distance and cannot see her tattoo?
These questions inspired our "InnoCentive Challenge" to identify a humane, cost-effective, safe, and permanent method of marking individual animals as contracepted or sterilized. With 367 creative, motivated participants, choosing the top proposals was not an easy task.
We look forward to sharing details on our InnoCentive winners, plus the marking innovations identified at ACC&D's upcoming Think Tank on this subject, in our May e-newsletter. We'll also present on this topic at our 5th International Symposium.
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JOB OPPORTUNITY WITH MICHELSON PRIZE AND GRANTS
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Exciting Leadership Opportunity with MP&G - Program Director
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Are yo u passionate about this cutting-edge field without the cutting edge? If yes, consider applying for the Michelson Prize & Grants Program Director position. The Program Director will oversee the Michelson Prize & Grants application and review processes, monitor grantee compliance with project aims, and coordinate future regulatory and commercialization processes for the successful non-surgical sterilant product on behalf of the Foundation.
The position will be located at Found Animals Foundation's pet-friendly office on the west side of Los Angeles. Ideal candidates must be able to travel (nationally and internationally) as needed. Applicants with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree, Master of Science Degree, and/or PhD in reproductive biology or a related field are preferred. Click here for complete details.
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| Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs (ACC&D) |  |
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