clipped from www.boston.com

The debate over the Dog Whisperer

His TV show is a hit and celebrities swear by him. But his tough-love training has detractors barking that positive reinforcement is less cruel and fetches better results.

clipped from www.boston.com

Now widely used around the world by animal trainers in zoos, performing-animal handlers, and domestic pet trainers, the clicker method and other positive, noncoercive forms of training have scientific evidence backing up their effectiveness, according to Dr. Nicholas Dodman, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University.

Now pediatricians and schools and parents have swung to a reinforcement-based model. In the dog world, I think that operant techniques are gradually sweeping the system.

clipped from news.medill.northwestern.edu

Maybe the Three Blind Mice didn’t really need their vision

Hartmann said one of the biggest surprises in her research was finding out how much independent control a rat has over its whiskers. Hartmann’s team found that whiskers do not bend and move the way people typically think– in sync and in a fluid brushing motion. A rat can shut down one side of its whiskers, while the other side goes to work.

Hartmann explained why it is important for scientists to study such seeminglyunusual systems as rat whiskers.
“By studying rat whiskers, what we’re really studying is the neural basis for the sense of touch and motor control. In the long run, understanding the rat’s neural circuits will greatly help us in understanding circuits of the human brain, and helping people with motor and sensing disabilities or injuries.”

clipped from gov.ca.gov

Legislative Update

NOTE: These
bills were sent to the Governor for his consideration prior to his announcement
yesterday that he would not sign any non-urgent legislation until a budget
agreement is reached.

SB
762 by Senator Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley) – Professions and vocations:
healing arts.

clipped from www.philly.com

A life on the front lines against deadly viruses

Frederick Murphy remembers the day in 1967 that live viruses arrived at his veterinary research lab from Marburg, West Germany. Seven people were already dead from an unknown monkey disease that had jumped to humans, causing them to bleed uncontrollably.

He was not afraid. As part of a small government team in Atlanta, it was his job to investigate such outbreaks.

“It was pure adventure,” Murphy said, to be out on the front lines identifying deadly microbes – first Marburg, later Ebola – that were entirely new to humans.

Today, Murphy will be in Philadelphia to receive the $100,000 Penn Vet World Leadership Award, the biggest cash prize for veterinary research. His animal studies years ago laid the groundwork for understanding many of the latest emerging human diseases.

clipped from www.sfgate.com

Animals in crisis: how you can help

A new Petfinder.com survey found that 84 percent of a total of 700 shelters and rescue groups that responded from across the country are experiencing an increase in pets being surrendered as a result of job loss and foreclosures linked to the economic downturn.

How can you protect your pet from financial uncertainty?

Budget for vet care in advance: Setting aside a few dollars every month can help ensure that you have enough cash to cover basic medical costs.

Invest in preventative medicine: Make sure your pet’s vaccines are up to date and don’t skimp on their annual checkups.

Consider subscribing to a pet health insurance plan: A small monthly contribution can help you sidestep unexpected big bills in the future.

clipped from www.timesonline.co.uk

Animal terrorist group foiled by informant dressed as a beagle

“If something came up in conversation, I would go to the loo and write it on
my body. Later I’d pull up my shirt and show it to a handler.”