Important Deadlines for the Upcoming Summit!

Deadlines are fast approaching for delegate registration and nominations for the 2010 International Summit for Urban Animal Strategies.

The Summit Awards Program

The Organizing Committee for the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies continues to call for nominations for the 2010 Summit Awards. 

The Summit Award criteria have been refined and new categories added - full category descriptions are available on the ISUAS website. Review them and nominate a deserving peer in your community. The procedure is simple and online.

The deadline for award submissions is Friday, August 27th.

The Summit Delegate Registration
 

This 5th annual meeting of alumni and executive thought leaders from across Canada will be considering one of the most important areas of discussion for our communities.  The homing of animals in our culture and society requires a new perspective and new strategies that will respond to the needs of a more responsible pet family.

The deadline for delegate registration is Friday, September 17th.

      

For more information contact:

Judi Cannon
Summits for Urban Animal Strategies
705.930.7387
event@tsuas.com 

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

How Has Domestication Changed the Cat?

Delegates at the Vancouver and Toronto 2010 Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies were provided with with a rare opportunity to gain research-based insight into how genetics have played a role in the evolution of the cat.

A total of 92% of delegates who responded to a survey agreed that Dr. Leslie Lyons, Associate Professor of Genetics at the University of California Davis,  was "considered to be an expert" and "conveyed information in her presentation in a way they could relate to."

Pet Adoptions That Really Rock!

There is always cause for celebration when a lost pet gets reunited with their guardians. Whether PetLynx plays a role in a successful recovery or not, we are always thrilled to hear when a wayward dog or cat gets home... safe!

But in animal shelters across the world, many dogs, cats and other companion animals are never claimed and must wait to find new 'forever homes.' Knowing that every new animal adoption is something special, the good folks at the Nevada Humane Society have put a new spin on saying "congratulations" as they present one lucky dog to an excited new owner! Watch their adoption entrance dance ... it is sure to put a smile on your face!

P&G Issues Voluntary Recall of Specialized Dry Pet Foods

In keeping with its steadfast commitment to animal health and safety, on July 30, 2010, the Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) voluntarily expanded a recent USA only recall of a select number of dry pet foods. 

The recall now includes Iams Veterinary Dry Formulas and some Specialized Eukanuba Dry Formula pet foods sold in veterinary clinics and specialty pet retailers in the USA and Canada.

This recall is a precautionary measure because these products were made in a single, specialized facility where it was determined that some products made at the facility may have the potential to be contaminated with salmonella. No salmonella-related illnesses have been reported and no canned pet food, biscuits/treats or supplements are affected by this announcement.

PetLynx Achieves Record High Registrations and Recoveries

An analysis of PetLynx Corporation's statistics showed extraordinary growth in the number of registrations in the first six months of 2010. During this time, a total of 57,620 entities registered with the PetLynx Automated National Recovery System. This achievement includes 29,561 companion animals and 28,059 associates (pet families and service providers) -- an increase of 129% and 91% respectively, over the same period last year.

From California to Canada: Sixty Dogs get a Second Chance

On Friday, June 25, 2010, 60 small breed dogs from the South East Area Animal Control Agency in California and the Fresno SPCA took a Freedom Flight! They were flown on a private jet from Long Beach to the Edmonton Humane Society.

The dogs were not adopted from their respective shelters in California because they have a surplus of small breed dogs. But in Edmonton, small breed dogs are much harder to find and, therefore, more easily adoptable. So, in an effort to find them forever homes, these dogs were transferred north.

PetLynx Announces New HomeSafe Initiative

At the April 2010 Canadian Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies an exciting new initiative to make pet insurance protection available to the pet families of the 14 million+ dogs and cats in Canada was announced.

Under this new initiative, called HomeSafe™, Western Financial Insurance Company (WFIC) and PetLynx Corporation will develop health insurance benefits for the new on-line HomeSafe™ portal.

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How does it work?

HomeSafe™ will provide a range of products and prices from three of the leading pet insurance brands in Canada, all of which are underwritten by WFIC. Pet families may choose the type of medical insurance that best meets their budget and their needs from among these offerings. This coverage will  be registered in the pet's record on the HomeSafe™ national system, which is powered by PetLynx. In an emergency situation, pets registered with HomeSafe™ will have the shortest path to medical attention in Canada.

Who will benefit from the HomeSafe™ program?

Everyone! Using the on-line HomeSafe™ portal, pet families will manage their  animals' care profiles, breed information, recovery services, pet pictures and licensing information. Pet retailers, breeders, humane societies, municipalities, veterinarians and other service providers will have the ability to ensure that the pets they place or provide services to have medical benefits.

Why is a program like HomeSafe™ needed?

The Urban Animal Surveys, conducted for PetLynx Corporation by Ipsos Reid in 2008 and dmrkynetec in 2009, clearly showed that companion animal health and wellness is a top priority for pet families.

Companion animal industry intelligence tells us that:

• There are higher instances of surrender and euthanasia in communities where health care benefits aren't readily available for companion animals.
• To reduce or eliminate this situation communities and industry need to work together.

What industry sectors can be involved with HomeSafe™?

• Municipalities
• Humane societies
• Veterinarians
• Breeders
• Retailers
• All other service providers.

Why Western Financial and PetLynx?

Because this program delivers a win for communities, pets, people and the companion animal industry in Canada.

"We believe that HomeSafe™ is the most comprehensive approach to improving health and wellness for companion animals in Canada," said Randy Valpy, President and CEO of Western Financial Insurance. "We have already paid out more than $110,000,000 in claims, which means Canadians can trust us. Now with PetLynx and the HomeSafe™ program we will take health and wellness to a new level."

"Health care is one of the highest priorities Canadians have," adds Larry R. Evans, President and CEO of PetLynx Corporation. "Our colleagues across Canada helped us become the largest automated recovery system in just three years. Together with Western Financial Insurance we will deliver a new level of health and wellness for pets and help Canadian communities become the best place for companion animals in the world."

ABOUT WESTERN FINANCIAL INSURANCE

Western Financial Insurance Company (WFIC), formally known as Securican General Insurance Company, is the first and only licensed insurance company in Canada to focus solely on pet health insurance. WFIC has a number of product lines. Its core brand is Petsecure pet health insurance, and they also underwrite PurinaCare^® Pet Health Insurance, PC Financial^® pet insurance, CAA pet insurance and Hbc Pet Insurance.

ABOUT PETLYNX CORPORATION

PetLynx automates the Companion Animal Industry in Canada.  Hundreds of times a day, the PetLynx Automated National Recovery System recovers lost pets. PetLynx is the only Internet system in the world that can recover animals using a physical description, with or without any of the common forms of pet identification. It is also the only system that can recover pets not enrolled prior to becoming lost. To date, more than 158,344 pet recoveries have been facilitated through the PetLynx National Recovery System in Canada.

PetLynx....  lifetime protection for pets and peace of mind for people.

For more information contact:

Mika Sanson ~ Western Financial Insurance Company

204.942.2999 ext 7297

Mika.Sanson@westernfic.com

http://www.westernfic.com

Cindy Kreutzer~ PetLynx Corporation

403.219.1088

cindy.kreutzer@petlynxmail.com

http://www.petlynx.com/

Posted by Terri Perrin ~ Online Communications Editor

Celebrate the Achievements of Your Peers

Submit a nomination for the Summit Awards

The Awards Committee for the Summit for Urban Animal Strategies is now inviting nominations for the 2010 Summit Awards. The Summits are presented annually to individuals, organizations, and communities that have achieved the recognition of their peers for proficiency or achievement in the award areas. It is the only awards ceremony in Canada to recognize excellence within all four sectors of the companion animal industry [Animal Control & Legislative Enforcement, Animal Welfare, Animal Services and Animal Health & Wellness].

Announcing 2011 Regional Summits Dates

The organizing committee for the Summits for Urban Animal Strategies (SUAS) is pleased to announce the event dates for the 2011 Regional Summits for Urban Animal Strategies (RSUAS).

Procter & Gamble Voluntarily Recalls Canned Cat Food

CINCINNATI, June 9, 2010 – The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) (NYSE:PG) today announced a voluntary recall of specific lots of its Iams canned cat food in North America as a precautionary measure. Diagnostic testing indicated that the product may contain insufficient levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1), which is essential for cats. Cats that were fed these canned products as their only food are at greater risk for developing signs of thiamine deficiency.