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Greetings!
I'm sending this newsletter from New York City, where I just presented on non-surgical sterilization for cats and dogs at The Cutting Edge: ASPCA 2013 Spay/Neuter Conference. It's fantastic to be among so many talented, compassionate people who share a commitment to humane, effective pet population control!
We're also sending this newsletter just before this year's World Rabies Day. We recognize the significant burden of this and other zoonotic diseases around the world. We also recognize the need for an interdisciplinary, One Health approach to solving these challenges--including population control of companion animal species. We encourage you to read on to learn more about World Rabies Day and the contributions that non-surgical options can make in eliminating this serious human and animal welfare issue in communities across the globe.
Thank you, as always, for your support of ACC&D.
 Joyce Briggs ACC&D President
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Coming up on Saturday, September 28th
This Saturday is World Rabies Day, a unique opportunity to collaborate with people from around the globe on a day dedicated to rabies prevention. The World Health Organization estimates that about 60,000 people die each year from this preventable viral infection. Most victims live in Asia and Africa, and over half are children. World Rabies Day is coordinated by our friends at the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, who work tirelessly to reduce the rabies burden in vulnerable communities.
Where does ACC&D fit in? We believe in the importance of a One Health approach to solving threats to humans, animals, and the environment alike. In many parts of the world, dogs are the primary rabies vector. Large-scale, humane canine population control and rabies vaccination are vital to keeping dogs -- and by extension people -- protected from the disease. Work is currently underway to develop non-surgical contraceptives that can be given to dogs at the same time as rabies vaccine, thus making dog population and rabies control easier, faster, and more cost-effective.
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Grand Challenges Explorations is accepting grant proposals
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Also in the One Health realm, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is committed to solving global health and development challenges. The Foundation's Grand Challenges Explorations program fosters innovation in global health research. It is currently accepting grant proposals in multiple topic areas, among them "The 'One Health' Concept: Bringing Together Human and Animal Health for New Solutions."
We know that ACC&D supporters are a creative, forward-thinking bunch. If you have an innovative idea, don't pass up this grant opportunity!
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Welcomes and Farewells
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ACC&D's Board of Directors
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 It is with extreme gratitude, and no small amount of sadness, that we bid Dr. Stephen L. Zawistowski farewell from ACC&D's Board of Directors. While working in multiple leadership capacities at the ASPCA, he has also been a steadfast presence on ACC&D's Board for eight years, several of them as Chair. The good news is that "Dr. Z" will remain part of the ACC&D family as a Scientific Advisory Board member, so we'll continue to benefit from his knowledge, integrity, and wit. Sto Lat, Dr. Z!
We also welcome two new members to ACC&D's Board of Directors. Dr. John Boone (Research Director, Great Basin Bird Observatory) has been a member of ACC&D's Scientific Advisory Board since 2011. During this time, he has been a key contributor to multiple ACC&D Think Tanks and initiatives, among them "Population Dynamics Modeling and Field Studies to Improve Development of Technologies for Non-surgical Sterilization of Cats and Dogs" and "Identifying & Prioritizing Marking Methods for Non-Surgically Sterilized Cats & Dogs." Dr. Jed Rogers joins the Board from the ASPCA, where he serves as Senior Vice President of Animal Health Services. In this capacity, he oversees the ASPCA's Animal Hospital, Spay/Neuter Operations, and Animal Poison Control Center. We are excited to have both these leaders joining us.
For the upcoming term, Dr. Elly Hiby has been elected to the role of ACC&D Board Chair; Dr. Linda Rhodes, Board Vice-Chair; Dr. Kevin Morris, Treasurer; and Dr. Amy Fischer, Secretary.
Thank you all, and welcome aboard to our new Board members!
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Dogs With No Names
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Pilot contraception program for dog population control and welfare
|  ACC&D has great respect for Dr. Judith Samson-French, who founded the contraception pilot initiative Dogs With No Names and received the 2013 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Humane Award. Working in Alberta's First Nations communities, Dr. Samson-French and her team quickly and painlessly insert contraceptive implants under the skin of female dogs. Approved through an Emergency Drug Release from the Canadian government, this scientific pilot has yielded valuable information while preventing births of thousands of puppies, protecting against rabies, fostering positive connections with First Nations community members, and greatly improving the welfare of free-roaming canines. We were delighted when Dr. Samson-French shared this video showing how Dogs With No Names works. Take a look - we guarantee it will improve your day! |
| Blogs, Articles, and Reports...Oh My! | |
Post-Symposium Publicity
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Over the course of the summer and early fall, we were pleased to see publications and press about ACC&D's 5th International Symposium. If you didn't see these pieces when they were first published, do not fear -- here's another opportunity.
Gregory Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, wrote this great blog, titled "The holy grail of spay/neuter." His colleague Peter J. Wolf, Cat Initiatives Analyst for Best Friends, wrote about the Symposium and emphasized the need for more options for cats (we agree!). Dr. Zarah Hedge, shelter veterinarian at the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA, wrote this thoughtful piece for the HSVMA monthly newsletter. Joseph Harvey of Animal Pharm wrote a comprehensive report about the Symposium and progress in the field of pet contraception. Merritt Clifton, longtime Editor for Animal People, wrote this insightful report on the Symposium as well as a related article on the relationship between castration and behavior. And last but certainly not least, Sy Woon blogged about the event for the University of Sydney Faculty of Veterinary Science Program, and she's since presented on the Symposium and Zeuterin to the school's veterinarians and students.
Our thanks to everyone for helping spread the word about ACC&D's 5th International Symposium and online proceedings!
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| Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs (ACC&D) |  |
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