Veterinarians on the Front Line

Jakub Kotowicz and a recently treated pygmy goat. Tom Maddick / SWNS

As the war continues in Uklraine, stories are emerging about the heroic role of veterinarians caring for injured or displaced animals on the front lines. Ukrainian veterinarian

Vladyslav Matviichuk

was displaced from his home and practice in Kyiv and now treats patients out of his parents home. From treating injuries from missile strikes to routine care, Vladyslav is seeing it all. With supplies running low, Vladyslav and his wife have had to get creative by reportedly cutting up bed sheets to use for bandage material following the surgeries he has had to perform on a kitchen table.

Veterinarians from outside Ukraine are also mobilizing to help.

Jakub Kotowicz of the ADA Foundation

in Poland has rescued over 200s cat and 60 dogs from Lviv.

Canadian veterinarian

Cliff Redford has also traveled to the ADA Foundation to aid in the efforts.

But dogs and cats are not the only animals affected by the conflict. There are

three large zoos

in cities currently under attack by the Russian military. Nikolaev Zoo, Kyiv Zoological Park and Kharkiv Zoo are all in the crossfire and decisions are being made as to what to do to support the animals in those locations. In consultation with the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA) these zoos are deciding which animals to relocate and which to keep on site. Transporting zoo animals safely and effectively is a major challenge. Not to mention that once transported, space available at nearby zoos is limited.

Our thoughts are with all the veterinary staff and animals stuck in this needless conflict.

Good news quick bites

In Argentina, Jaguars have returned to the Iberá wetlands for the first time in 70 years and the macaw for the first time since the 1800s. Nick Núñez / Pexels

It's important to appreciate the good news that's all around us. Tucked behind the headlines of war, global warming and inflation we promise there is plenty to find hope, joy and inspiration in. Here are a few of our favourites so far this year:

Thanks to dog-relocation networks, animal rescue and increased demand for pets during the pandemic, the number of euthanized dogs in the US has now fallen to a historic low of 390,000 per year. Just a decade ago, 2.6 million stray dogs and cats were being euthanized each year.

A project in Argentina that turns private land into national parks has successfully reintroduced regionally extinct species like the pampas deer, giant anteaters, collared peccaries coypus and jaguars.

Korea is done with bear farming, Iceland is done with commercial whaling, Hawaii is done with shark fishing and federal protections for gray wolves have been fully restored across most of the US in just some of the animal advocacy wins so far this year.

Panama has enacted a Rights of Nature law to give nature unique legal rights to fight ecological harm. The unique law is modeled after similar legislature was drafted in Bolivia, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico.

Plus, Oregon is conserving 33,000 hectares of the Elliott State Forest for research, Australia is ending logging and protecting 400,000 hectares of one of the most diverse native forests on earth, and The Biden administration has protected three million acres of critical habitat for the northern spotted owl. You just love to see it.

Quick hits:

Here are the stories that caught our eyes this week and are worth a read: TAMU deploys emergency team to help in wildfire relief [TAMU]Vet pathologist sues for pay discrimination [VIN]How wild animals can help control the climate crisis [The Guardian]Appalachian State introduces veterinary technology degree [The Appalachian]Resolution aimed at addressing veterinarian shortage passes [Mountain View Today]

Trivia

In what year was the London Zoo founded?

Your weekly dopamine

Zoom deploys animal avatars.

How many l

awyers will be saying "I'm not a cat your honor"

now that

animal avatars are available on zoom

video chats?

Trivia Answer

The London Zoo, operated by the Zoological Society of London, was established in 1828.

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