Dr. Thomas Long, Board Member of the Morris Animal Foundation, delivered an annual update about the work the Morris Foundation does to create a healthier tomorrow for today's animals. Dr. Long began his presentation with a summary of how its founder, Dr. Morris initiated his lifelong work making a better tomorrow for animals through research.
Dr. Morris started the Hills Food, better known to those of us with pets as Science Diet. In 1948, the Morris Animal Foundation was established, and while llamas and alpacas are only a small source of the budget, MAF is the largest research clearinghouse for llama and alpaca funding.
Help for canine, equine, feline, camelid & wildlife consortia
Large animal practitioners are the smallest group studying veterinary medicine and the second smallest group is animal science researchers. The MAF studies animals humanely and they do it carefully, without euthanasia unless it is absolutely necessary. It is not, however, the end point.
MAF has an estate planning program, which has the infrastructure to handle major contributors. The program is called Lamplighters. Their research is proactive and this year’s budget was 7.5 million dollars. Their annual target goal is $13 million.
Why partner with MAF? Many reasons, including a National Canine Health Initiative with the National Cancer Institute. In addition, 25 staff people and 25 science experts review traditional studies with peer review and provide advice on feline, canine, and camelid consortia.
The members of GALA and its generous sponsors, auction bidders, and all those who supported The Magic of Llamas are proud to contribute to the MAF. As a community of animal owners and lovers, we join the MAF in working for cures for diseases that afflict animals.
A special thank you to Dr. Long for his excellent presentation, Q&A session, and for sharing his PowerPoint.
Life on The Farm is a daily adventure; you never know when your day begins what it will bring. In addition to unbearable heat (we managed), on Friday Maria had an eye issue. After calling Carol Reigh (who continues to gain living sainthood), I drove to Blue Mountain Animal Clinic because Dr. Truesdell promised she would help out when she could till her large animal vet joining the practice finished school at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. That was two years ago.
God watches over our animals, I am sure, because I walked into the clinic and there stood Justin L. Cunfer, DVM, who just joined the practice in June and happens to be a local boy and near neighbor as well. When you wait for someone for nearly 2 years, you form a wish list of what you hope your vet will be. Justin was the whole package, plus! He is gentle, caring, and kind in his handling of our animals. He is patient and deliberate, never making a rush to judgment or a false move. My animals instinctively trusted him and I hope were a pleasure to treat. We--all of us--wanted to please. The girls too.
Fortune was smiling, and it was firsts all around. It was Justin's first visit to a farm as a large animal vet. It was Ashley Hawk, CVTs first visit ever. And for me, well, it was our first visit with llamas too. It was so first that the truck was not fully outfitted, but for our purposes, it was like a bit of heaven in your own back yard.
It was a wonderful visit with a happy ending. No eye damage, just some good old-fashioned dirt in Maria's eye. Justin flushed the eye and medicated it, after determining there was no injury. How great it is not only having Justin nearby, but he actually had experience with llamas and alpacas, and he is so willing to continue to learn. In his future, there's a complimentary invitation to our GALA 2010 The Magic of Llamas Conference at Holiday Inn Conference Center in Grantville, PA, and I am really hoping he will attend. It's hard to capture the excitement I feel at having a vet so close by and so knowledgeable, as well as having a trained CVT in Ashley. I am finally breathing a sigh of relief, looking forward to my first cria in September, an Eskalaro offspring.
You can discover more about Justin L. Cunfer, DVM, at Box.net.
Blue Mountain Animal Clinic is a small but growing practice in a tiny town that might otherwise be forgotten except for its intersection on a major N - S highway. From left to right, Barb Stewart manages the office and multitasks with efficiency I admire and covet. Bev Miller meets and greets, handles too many things at one time with ease, and controls the climate of the office ~ always calm, considerate, caring. Dr. Amanda L. Teter rounds out the DVM staff; she has returned from maternity leave and we are glad she is back. Additional office staff was busy helping in the background, so no photo op with them. What I can guarantee is that hidden away in this tiny hamlet is a veterinary practice with a very large heart, and I am blessed that they are a part of our lives.
