Activity

Dr. Hunter announced the passing of Dr. Kent McVey of South Grand Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Branford moved and Dr. Wood seconded that a $1000 scholarship be awarded to a student at the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine in Dr. McVey’s memory, criteria to be determined by Dr. McVey’s wife, Pamila. Motion passed.
Dr. Hunter cautioned that drug-seeking clients have been reported in the Spokane area recently and advised practitioners to know their clients when dispensing controlled substances.
The winter meeting was successful and the financial report will be available at the July meeting.
Given the changes in association programs this year, it was decided to forego elections until April 2017. All current officers agreed to serve until that time.
Dr. Hunter thanked Drs. Brenda Day and Sara Shaw for taking over the management of the winter meetings.
Dr. Whipps moved and Dr. Wood seconded that the secretary’s salary be increased from $150 to $200/month, retroactive to January 2016. Motion passed.
Dr. Whipps introduced Shannon Potts, RPh, of Reliant LifeWorks, a compounding pharmacy located at 2820 N Astor, near Division and Foothills. They offer sterile and non-sterile compounding and are entering the veterinary market. The phone is (509) 252-5693. They will be hosting the July quarterly meeting for us.
Dr. Minden Buswell of the Washington State Department of Agriculture spoke on the role of the reserve veterinary corps. The reserve corps currently consists of 118 veterinarians, veterinary technicians and other first responders in Washington, Idaho and Oregon. Corps members receive advanced training, for which they receive CE credit and a stipend of $50-100 to help defray travel costs. The corps is deployed through the state veterinarian’s office. They do not self-deploy.
The reserve corps deployed to care for the search dogs working the Oso mud slide in 2014 and to assist in the disposal of deceased cattle in the aftermath of the Carlton Complex fire in 2014.
Washington and Idaho are considered vital in preventing foreign animal disease outbreaks due to the presence of ports and proximity to the Canadian border. Interesting fact: When Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was discovered in 4 Washington counties, producers whose flocks were depopulated received compensation only for LIVE birds, insentivizing early reporting.
If you are interesting in joining the reserve veterinary corps, contact Dr. Buswell at (360) 902-1835 or mbuswell@agr.wa.gov

Rachel Sterett, Spokane Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, spoke on the investigation and prosecution of animal abuse cases. She and Nancy Hill of SCRAPS have prepared an article, which is attached to this newsletter. The take-home message is that they are looking for veterinarians to aid in prosecuting these cases and the stronger a case we can help them make upfront, the less likely the cases are to go to trial. To volunteer, contact Nancy Hill at (509) 477-2532 or NHill@spokanecounty.org