Pet Profile: Bo. Status: The First Dog

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2 Pet Profile: Bo Status: The First Dog Date of Birth: October 9, 2008 Bo is the dog of the Obama family. He is a neutered, Portuguese Water Dog. The reason the family chose this breed of dog was because one of the daughters is very allergic to dogs and this is a hypoallergenic breed. Bo was a gift from Senator and Mrs. Kennedy. Fun Fact: Bo has two mutant genes that contribute to his appearance. These genes code for his coat and curly hair. What he lacks is a third mutant gene what would give him a moustache and eyebrows, that would be seen on dogs with wiry hair. Because Bo lacks the third mutant gene, it means that he has the ancestral form of that gene, which matches the patterns found in wolves.

3 Dr. Andrew Cartoceti, Head Veterinarian at New England Wildlife Center Why did you go into veterinary medicine? --I chose veterinary medicine as a career for a number of reasons. When I was young, I was fortunate to grow up in a household where I was allowed to have many different pets from dogs and cats, to fish and reptiles, my sister even had a pony and a pig. I loved taking care of animals and interacting with them in my daily life, but I also enjoyed learning about their natural histories and unique biology. Additionally, I was always drawn to the biological and life sciences and so had always seen myself as pursuing some sort of career in science. Then as a freshman in high school my cat died unexpectedly when he was less than 2 years old. We never found out what was wrong with him and I hated not having an answer for his death. It was then that I realized I wanted to prevent others from losing a beloved pet at such an early age like I did. I wanted to treat sick and injured animals and work towards understanding diseases that were not well studied. I wanted to become a vet. Where did you attend vet school? --I received both my undergraduate and veterinary training from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Why have you decided to work specifically with wildlife? --I specifically chose to work with wildlife because of my longstanding fascination and respect for our environment. I grew up in rural Connecticut and spent most of my time in the woods learning about the natural history of native plants and animals. As I grew older my hobbies naturally grew into other outdoor activities hiking, camping, fishing, canoeing etc. The natural world has been a source of so much enjoyment for me and provides so much for all of us food, resources, recreation and aesthetic beauty. I think we are all deeply indebted to the environment; after all we d be nothing without it. It s our job to protect and preserve it for future generations. As a wildlife veterinarian, I am able to not only help sick and injured wildlife, but also to educate others and instill a sense of appreciation and stewardship that necessary to protect the natural world.

4 What aspects of your job do you find most rewarding? --One of the most rewarding parts of my job is definitely releasing a wild animal that has been successfully rehabilitated. Most of the wild animals that we treat have injuries that are the direct result of interaction with humans. So when we can fully rehabilitate them and reintroduce them back to their natural habitat it feels extra special. I know we are doing our best to help mitigate humans harmful effects on wildlife. I also really enjoy teaching the students. Our high school and undergraduate interns have so much enthusiasm and energy. It is a lot of fun to work with young adults that are so bright and determined. It s also a great feeling when our students decide to pursue a biology-related career, whether its veterinary/vet tech, zoology, or an advanced degree in science. Do you have any advice for undergraduate students pursuing a career in veterinary medicine? -Work hard in school and try to get as much diverse veterinary experience as possible. The veterinary profession is very broad and a DVM degree doesn't just qualify you to work as a small animal vet. Veterinarians work with all types of animals and also work in many different sectors -- government, industry, public health, research, policy and law, international aid, conservation, etc. Take some time to explore the field and see what areas interest you the most. I think that veterinary school admissions committees like to see this level of experience as well, as it shows that you are a balanced candidate and have considered all your options. **ANSWERS FROM APRIL NEWSLETTER** What is the disease? Uronemosis What is the ciliate? TheectoparasiticprotozoaUronemamarinum What is the treatment? Freshwaterbathswithprolongedimmersioninformalin24hourslater

5 Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine By: Drew Clark Place: The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine is spread out over three campuses, with the main veterinary campus being located in Blacksburg Virginia. This is the main campus of Virginia Tech. The city of Blacksburg itself has a population of around 40,000 and is situated between several mountain ranges. Blacksburg has been compared to as a larger version of Durham. With its large and diverse student population, Blacksburg has something to offer everyone. Vet School Campus: The VMRCVM is spread over three campuses, with each campus housing different specialties. Located at the Blacksburg campus is the small and large animal teaching hospitals, along with the main academic buildings. The equine medical center is located in Leesburg Virginia. The VMRCVM also has research and professional development center located at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. Class Information: The class size at VMRCVM is increasing as of the 2011 application cycle. The class size will be 120 seats. Out of these 120 seats, 80 will be for Virginia, Maryland and other contract states students. The remaining 40 seats will be for nonresident and non-contract students. Focus/ Tracking: After the end of the first year, students must choose a track. The track options at VMRCVM are small animal, food animal, equine, mixed species, and public/corporate. The public/corporate track prepares student for career outside of the private practice realm. This is a unique program to VMRCVM. The tracking program allows students to focus their efforts in what they are most interested in. Facilities: The VMRCVM is undergoing a large renovation program, allowing the school to update and improve their facilities. These renovations have allowed the VMRCVM to accommodate a significantly larger class size. The new facilities include instructional facilities, an Infectious Disease Research facility, and a Transitional Medicine facility. Admissions Notes: The admissions requirements for VMRCVM are fairly standard. They have no unique class requirements. The average entering GPA is 3.5 on 4.0 scale. Climate: The summer in Blacksburg tends to range from low fifties to highs in the loweighties. Winters tend to be cold, with temperatures averaging in the low twenties. Spring and fall tend to have temperatures averaging between the low-forties to high fifties. Admissions Contact Info: Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine DVM Admissions Office (0442) Blacksburg, VA (540) Fax: (540)

6 On Friday April 8th the Pre-vet club loaded up two white vans with its 15 members and were off to Cornell vet school open house. After about a 6 hours drive we settled into our rooms, enjoyed dinner and even some members got in some pool and gym time. The next morning we had a quick breakfast and then headed to Cornell for the day. Once there we were able to get a little exploring done before the open house began. We saw some of the academic buildings, a garden, and even a beaver that was by one of the bridges on campus. Once the open house started at 10am the members scattered in small groups to explored the various exhibits. There was everything from ultrasounds to xrays, dog demos to even an elephant heart. There was something for everyone to look at and experience. One of the most rewarding parts of the trip was the panel of current vet students and admissions director that held a session to answer questions and to share their experience as a Cornell Vet student. Students got a chance to see statistics of acceptance, various opportunities, and even how classes are run. The day ended around 3pm and the group was on the road back to the granite state for a 7-hour drive home.

7 On Tuesday April 19th the pre-vet club got to monkey around a little bit, literally. Helping Hands worker Marie brought in Risa a brown capoochin monkey and talked with the club about the program. Helping hands is based out of Boston and has been running for 32 years. They are the only organization in the world that trains monkeys and places them in homes for people with disabilities. This nonprofit organization started in 1979 to help those who have been disabled due to spinal cord injuries but now has expanded to all types of disabilities. The monkeys are trained for about 2-4 years, or about until the age of 10-12, before they are placed in homes. Training is started in a sound proof room with monkey see, monkey do imitation and then moved on to real life situations where they would help with everyday tasks such as turning on a light or getting medicine. These monkeys don't only help with tasks but also with depression and pain. They become a friend and companion to these patients. The prevet club got to meet Risa and was able to ask questions and learn how to get involved in this program. If students are interested in shadowing Marie for a day her is Mariesnuthouse@yahoo.com and any further questions or interest in volunteering in the program should can call (617) or go to

8 Important Dates-May May3,2011(Tuesday) SeniorTalks Location:RudmanG89 Time:8PM Description:ComehearfromUNHseniorswhohavebeenacceptedintovet school(s)!whatbetterwaytoprepareforvetschoolthantohearfromyourfellow studentswhohavebeensuccessfulatgettingthroughunhandmakingitintovet school. WewillalsobehavinganENDOFTHEYEARPRE VET PARTY!STAYTUNEDFORDETAILS! STUDYHARDFORFINALSAND HAVEAGREAT SUMMER!