Friday, July 13, 2007

Morris Animal Foundation

Lincoln State Cat Club proudly supports Morris Animal Foundation. In the latest news from MAF:

Morris Animal Foundation’s VETERINARY STUDENT SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Advancing animal medicine tomorrow depends upon the students in veterinary school today. In 2006 Morris Animal Foundation launched the Veterinary Student Scholars Program. By giving students the opportunity to work on research projects early in their careers, we hope to encourage them to consider a career in research. At our annual meeting in June 2007, 23 student scholars presented their projects. Though originally two prizes of $5,000 were to be given, the projects were so outstanding that an anonymous donor came forward to allow MAF to give out six prizes. Prizes of $500, $1,000 and $5,000 were given to the top three students in the companion animal and wildlife categories.

Congratulations to our 2006 Winners:
The top prize in companion animals, The Ballard Award, went to Steven Friedenberg, a student at Cornell University. Under the mentorship of Dr. Rory Todhunter, Steven studied canine hip dysplasia and identified a potential genetic marker that may be linked to this disease.

The top prize in wildlife, The Ballard Award, went to Sophie E. Knafo, a student at Tufts University who was mentored by Dr. Gretchen Kaufman. Gretchen spent the summer in northern Kenya studying disease transmission from domestic livestock to the endangered Grevy’s zebra.

Second place in companion animals went to Cherlene Delgado at the University of Missouri for her work on treating feline asthma. Third place for companion animals went to Ashley Hill at Mississippi State University for her project on hyperelastosis cutis, a genetic disease of quarter horses.

Larry JB Minter at North Carolina State University received second place in wildlife for his project on cryopreserving (freezing) genetic material for use in assisted reproduction of wild species. Third place went to Laura Stokes-Greene at the Ohio State University for her work in studying infectious disease risks to the highly endangered Sumatran rhinoceros.

Morris Animal Foundation applauds each of the students who participated in the Veterinary Student Scholars program. Their commitment and passion will surely make the world a better place for all animals.

Please follow the link below to the Morris Animal Foundation 2006 Veterinary Student Scholars page on our website.

http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/2006_vss

More information about the Morris Animal Foundation Veterinary Student Scholars program is available on our website, http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/scientists
Applications for next year’s awards will be due February 2008.

Join Morris Animal Foundation's online community forum for animal lovers at www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Tootin' the Horn


The first time I clapped eyes on Kenny and Willie (yes, Willie is the tiger equivalent of a person with Down Syndrome) at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, there were living in a cage with not a lot more than concrete and steel mesh.

Not anymore.

If this video of them taking their first steps into their new habitat doesn't bring a tear to your eye or a lump to your throat, nothing will.

Kudos to the all the folks at Turpentine Creek. Job well done.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Tummy Tuesdays

Bev Frenzel sends photos of the latest batch of Injoi Oriental Shorthair kittens:

Whaddaya mean we don't all fit in here?

Well, heck -- if you'd have told me Tummy Tuesday was coming, I might have shown a little more belly!

Hey! No peeking at my tummy through the mesh!
_____

It's Tummy Tuesday over at Lisa Violet's place.

Also, don't forget to check out the Friday Ark at the Modulator, and Carnival of the Cats at Mind of Mog. If that doesn't fill your weekly quota of feline bloggy goodness, I don't know what will!