Fido 411

TXDM staff reports

'Lisette the Vet' Wins Children's Book Award

"The Pet Vet" has been recognized for Lisette the Vet, her picture book about a little girl who dreams of becoming a veterinarian, according to a news release.

Forest Lane Books announced that the 2019 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards recognized "Lisette the Vet" with a Bronze Award in the Animals/Pets category. The Moonbeam Awards received 1,150 entries this year and recognized and rewarded exemplary children's books that support and encourage children's love of reading. "Lisette the Vet" is celebrity veterinarian Dr. Ruth MacPete's first book in a series about a little girl who wants to be a veterinarian.

I am honored to win a Moonbeam Award and proud that my book was recognized out of so many talented entries," said Dr. MacPete. "I hope that my book inspires children to face their fears, believe in themselves, and follow their dreams.

Lisette loves all animals: big or little, furry or feathery, even slimy or scaly. Well ... almost all animals. When her class gets a new pet, she can't wait to meet him. Then she finally meets Fluffy and he is not what she expected. When disaster strikes, will Lisette the Vet overcome her fears and save the day?

Lisette The Vet

Written by: Ruth MacPete, DVM

Illustrated by: Anzhelika Enshina

Publisher: Forest Lane Books

Age Range: 4 to 8

For more information, or to order a signed copy, visit LisetteTheVet.com

PetSmart doubles grants for pets in the classroom

PetSmart has nearly doubled its support of teachers across North America this year by offering more than 10,000 grants to Pets in the Classroom, according to a news release. The program provides teachers with financial support to purchase and care for small animals in their classrooms.

Pets play a valuable role in children's physical, social, emotional and cognitive development and can also enrich school curriculum,"

said Kathy Mitchell, PetSmart government affairs director and Pet Care Trust board member, in a news release.

Pets in the Classroom was established by the Pet Care Trust knowing that, while classroom pets can be a valuable teaching tool, many teachers have limited resources for the support of classroom animals.

The program is currently accepting applications for the 2019-2020 school year. Teachers who already have a classroom pet can also apply for a sustaining grant to help support costs of pet care.

For more information, visit PetsintheClassroom.org.

Report: Pets in 67M homes; multicultural owners increase

More than half (54%) of American households have a pet, according to a news release on the new study "Pet Population and Ownership Trends in the U.S: Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets, 3rd Edition."

Research firm Packaged Fact estimates that households with pets total 67 million in 2019. The two most popular pets, dogs and cats, live in 39% and 24% of U.S. households, respectively. Additionally, one in eight households has other pets — including fish, birds, reptiles, or small animals such as rabbits, hamsters or gerbils.

The study also found that, compared to a decade ago, pet owners are now more likely to be a member of a multicultural population segment (28% in 2018 vs. 22% in 2008).

Between 2008 and 2018 the increase in the number of Hispanic, African American, Asian, and other multicultural pet owners was five times higher than the increase in the number of non-Hispanic white pet owners,

says Packaged Facts Research Director David Sprinkle.

Packaged Facts reports that:

The number of Latinos owning pets increased 44% from 15 million in 2008 to 22 million in 2018.

Additionally, the impact of Latinos on dog or cat ownership has been especially pronounced. Over the past decade the number of Hispanic dog owners increased 59%. The number of Latino cat owners likewise increased 50%

Although a much smaller population, the number of Asian pet owners grew at the same rate (45%), between 2008 and 2018.

During the same period, the number of African American pet owners also increased at a healthy rate (24%).

San Antonio marine reunited with military working dog

WASHINGTON — Military working dog (MWD) Zoran, who worked to protect U.S. troops at the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni in Japan, retired from service and was reunited in September in San Antonio with his former handler, U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Brianna George.

Nine-year-old German Shepherd Zoran was trained for detection and patrol. According to a news release, He and Cpl. George last saw each other in September 2018, after serving close to two years together in Japan.

American Humane has worked to support the U.S. military, veterans, and military animals for more than 100 years. One of its efforts is reuniting retiring MWDs with their former handlers.

I cannot wait to give Zoran the retired life he deserves for all his years of faithful and dedicated service," Cpl. George said in the release. "I also can't thank American Humane for the time and effort they dedicated to getting Zoran home from Japan. Without them, this wouldn't be possible.

Texas Tech breaks ground on school of veterinary medicine

AMARILLO — Though this was a few months ago, we at TXDM wanted to share the news that Texas Tech University has broken ground on its School of Veterinary Medicine. Amarillo Campus. The school is located at the university's Health Sciences Center in Amarillo, according to a news release, and is expected to enroll its first class of about 60 students in Fall 2021. (So get ready to get those applications together!)

Administrators and officials from Texas Tech University and TTUHSC gathered Sept. 19 to celebrate the milestone, which the release says will bring to fruition Texas' first new school of veterinary medicine in more than 100 years.

In addition, a separate set of facilities that will serve as the large-animal focal point of the school will be named the School of Veterinary Medicine Mariposa Station.

70% of dog and cat owners purchase gifts for pets during Christmas and winter holidays

ROCKVILLE, Md. — A substantial majority of dog owners (78%) and cat owners (72%) purchase special gifts or treats for their pets during the Christmas and Winter holiday season, according to "Pet Population and Ownership Trends in the U.S: Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets, 3rd Edition," a new report by Packaged Facts.

The holidays offer the perfect opportunity to show our family members we care, and for most American pet parents their dogs and cats are as much a part of the family as the humans are,

Packaged Facts research director David Sprinkle said in a news release.

The report found that Millennial dog owners and those who are married/partnered without children are most likely to give holiday gifts or treats to their pets. Additionally, cat owners who are married/partnered without children have an exceptionally high propensity to give their cats holiday gifts or treats.

According to the report, four in five dog or cat owners enjoy buying products that pamper their pets. Additionally, 58% of pet owners pamper their pets by giving them indulgent treats, with millennial owners being the most likely to do so.

Packaged Facts estimates that more than half of U.S. households have a pet, as there are 67 million households with pets. Dogs live in 39% and cats reside in 24% of U.S. households. One in eight households has other pets, including fish, birds, reptiles, or small animals such as rabbits, hamsters or gerbils.