Media Advisory: The Florida Cat Conference and Dog Owners and Breeders Symposium

July 27, 2007

WHAT: The Florida Cat Conference and Dog Owners and Breeders Symposium

Sponsored by the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, this annual event will feature speakers on a range of health issues facing cats and dogs. UF veterinarians and special guest speakers will address animal behavior, care for aging pets, animal first aid, toxic pet foods, eye and ear infections, and neonatal care, among other topics of interest to breeders and animal enthusiasts.

Events are open to registrants only, but the press is invited to sit in on talks and may be granted interviews during breaks in the program.

Dr. Melinda Merck, the forensic veterinarian for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, will present an afternoon seminar on feline cruelty and will give the keynote address during the Entrees in Expertise dinner later in the evening. Merck, a national and international consultant on animal cruelty cases, is the author of “Veterinary Forensics: Animal Cruelty Investigations” and has been featured in publications such as Veterinary Practice News and People Magazine as well as on National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air” radio program.

During Merck’s dinner presentation, she will share procedures for processing crime scenes involving animal cruelty cases to preserve evidence for cruelty investigations, using actual cases as examples.

WHEN: The program begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 4:45 p.m Aug. 4. An Entrees in Expertise dinner from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. will feature Dr. Merck as guest speaker.

WHERE: Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, 1714 S.W. 34th St., Gainesville

CONTACT: For more information, contact Sarah Carey at 352-392-2213, ext. 5206 or careys@.vetmed.ufl.edu or, beginning Aug. 2, April Frawley Birdwell at 352-273-5817 or afrawley@ufl.edu.