We are asking $5000.00 for it.  Anyone interested needs to call Dr. Doug Parker or Melissa Freeman at 479-273-1355 or email us at sugarcreekanimalhospital@hotmail.com

The 2012 membership dues are coming in daily. If you have not received your renewal form, please contact me. You can also download a membership form on the website. We need all veterinarians to be active in YOUR association. We need a strong voice when issues arise. As always, if you ever have questions, concerns, or ideas, please feel free to call me. I am always here for each of you.

Our leadership will change hands in February at the Winter Meeting. Dr. Damian Stroderd has done a great job leading our Association over the last year. It has been a pleasure to work with him. He has a couple of more months before passing the gavel to Dr. Scott Smith during the Winter Meeting.  I look forward to working with Dr. Smith as our association moves into 2012.  I look forward to seeing you all at the Winter Meeting!!

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Fondly,

Maggie Milligan

Nationally we are still fighting against HR1406 Fairness to pet owner’s act this has not gone away yet. This bill would require Veterinarians write a prescription for every drug given or prescribed and also provide the owner with options for filling the medications. Of course all of this must be documented on the medical record. Please check it out the AVMA has recommended that we contact our congressman.

On the State level Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) has started the process in developing a Disaster Canine Search and Rescue (SAR) team, Arkansas Task Force 1. These teams are composed of specially trained dogs and their handlers. The team may respond to crime scenes, accidents, missing people and disasters. As part of this effort, the AR Task Force 1 team is looking for veterinarians throughout the state that may be interested in volunteering their services to help these dogs if they are injured or become ill during a search. There are some unique situations these dogs find themselves in that may need immediate veterinary care.

This has been a relatively active year for rabies, especially in the western part of the state. So far in 2011, the Arkansas Health Department has had 47 rabid skunks, 6 rabid bats and 1 rabid cat for a total of 54. Sebastian County alone had 26 rabid skunks, partly due to an epidemic there but also partly due to an increase in submission following publicity about the epidemic. We continue to struggle with citizens not having their pets vaccinated against rabies. Of the 82 dogs and cats that have been exposed to known rabid animals this year, only 25.6% have been current on their vaccinations. Of interest also are the two rabid bats found in Monroe Co. This is the first time we have documented a rabid animal there in more than 21 years. We recently had a rabid cat submitted from Pike Co. that became quite aggressive and viciously attacked the owner. Naturally this is an outside cat that had never been vaccinated against rabies.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer veterinarian for the Arkansas Taskforce 1 or would like information about Rabies cases please contact State Public Health Veterinarian, Susan Weinstein, DVM, MPH, (501) 280-4136 or Susan.Weinstein@Arkansas.gov

Sincerely,

Damian Stroderd, DVM

December 2011

I hope everyone is well and looking forward to a festive and happy holiday season! Hopefully, I will deliver this message in person to many of you.  I am almost finished with my deployment and plan to depart the area next week.

The holidays are the time of the year that we reflect upon the previous year and plan the next.  2011 was a busy year!  It seems like an eternity since I have been home.  I departed Arkansas in June and hope to be home to ring in the year with Jon and Chris. Deployments are often more difficult on the family members that are left at home.  The spouses, children, parents and colleagues left behind adjust their lives without the service member and keep doing what they would normally do like work, school, activities, church, and home.  I think the worry and fear is the worse emotion to be left to deal with.   I know my dear, sweet husband graciously accepted all the additional responsibilities left for him, like the clinic bills, household stuff, cat litter boxes, swimming pool patrol and stand in “mom” duties!  My son graciously accepted the daily school shuffle and the many nights of not being home to sleep in his own bed.  Grandparents gracefully stepped into “parent mode” to care for Chris.  The clinic continued on with Dr Woody and staff.  Needless to say, life continued back in Arkansas without me.  I am eternally grateful for your support and understanding during this deployment.  But my mission here is complete and time for me to come home.

I have had the honor to work with a stellar Agribusiness Development Team with the Nebraska Army National Guard.  Their leadership and security element has kept us safe.  I feel that I positively contributed to the team and to the people of Afghanistan.  Many of my projects provided improved veterinary care to numerous districts and thousands of livestock.  We provided invaluable training for many Afghan veterinarians and para-vets and improved their technical skills and ability to enhance their professional status and livelihoods.  We aided the Afghan Veterinary Assoc with a rabies vaccine and awareness campaign along with seasonal livestock vaccination clinics.   I have spent countless hours mentoring and training members of the Afghan government and worked with a Women’s Advocacy Group to improve the safety of women and to improve their access to schools and college. Just to name a few.   It is a very humbling experience to hear from an Afghan how much they appreciate what the “Americans do for us”.  Regardless of how much we try to put the Afghan face on our projects and efforts, that “US Army” nametag and flag is hard to ignore.  What will become of Afghanistan and my friends after I leave and the US forces depart the theater is still unknown…..all we can do is hope and pray they will stay safe and prosper.  I will miss my Afghan friends and Ag Team. My mission is complete here and it is time for me to come home.

I look forward to 2012.  I look forward to transforming back into my American roles of mom and wife and Dr Kate.  I look forward to spending time with the family and friends.  I cherish my clients and patients and can’t wait to get back to work at the clinic.

I have never been more proud to be an American…..we are the chosen ones and have so much to be thankful for.  Even with a tough economy and economic downfall, we are the most influential people around the globe….be proud of who we are, what we represent, and what we believe in.  Never forget that blood was shed to keep our country free, freedom is never free!  God bless you all and hope to see you soon.

Peace be with you,

Kate Williams, DVM
St. Francis Animal Hospital

The new logo appears on this newsletter. If you have suggestions, or comments about the website, please feel free to contact me.  Remember, you can advertise items for sale or post job listing. You just need to email me that information and I will get it posted. You should have received your 2011 Directory. If you need additional copies, please let me know. They can be purchased for $5.00 a piece. It is always nice to have several copies in your clinic. If you would be interested in purchasing an ad for the 2012 Directory, please email me. It is a great, inexpensive way to reach a lot of eyes. The 2012 Winter Meeting will be here before we know it.  Mark your calendars for February 3-5, 2012 in Hot Springs. Dr. Scott Smith is putting together a great line of speakers.  Watch your mail and the website for more details. They will be out soon. Please remember our Arkansas Veterinary Medical Foundation. If you aren’t donating on a regular basis, you really need to be!!  The Foundation does great things like providing scholarships and helping with research. The financial debt students are faced with today is huge. They need all the help they can receive. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!!  Contact the office for donation cards or pamphlets to put out in your clinic.  It means SO much to clinics to receive a memorial letter when a pet is lost. I hope this HOT Summer is coming to an end and Fall is just around the corner!! As always, if I can ever help any of you with anything, or if you have suggestions for anything with the Association, please call or e-mail me. I am here for YOU!!

Until Next Time,

Maggie Milligan

Seeking experienced high volume spay neuter veterinarian. LOCATION: Arkoma, OK  Must be able to do on average 25 surgeries a day (2 days per week).  Must be a team player. Start time is 8:30 a.m. until all surgeries are done. Some after hours. Contact Shearon Allen 479-652-0580