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CBC
5 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Animals can't speak for themselves, but these vets will do it for them
New programming at the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) is preparing students for situations that many people may not associate with animal medical specialists. The OVC, Canada's oldest veterinary college, began rolling out a new forensic science program this month. It's offered in week-long rotations as an elective to fourth-year students, who learn how to identify when an animal has been abused or neglected. Dr. Shane Bateman, an OVC professor in emergency and critical care medicine, said the forensic program involves taking the skills veterinarians already have — including anatomy, pathology and animal behaviour — and using them to spot possible abuse or neglect. "The estimate is around 90 per cent of veterinarians will likely have seen what they perceive to be a case of animal cruelty or neglect with their practice lifetimes," Bateman said. He said some veterinarians haven't had the tools to identify and report abuse or neglect, making them hesitant to follow through. "What's strongly motivating me to bring this education into our curriculum is to change the outcome from the research that shows that veterinarians aren't necessarily always that good at reporting their suspicions." For Bateman, one of the most important lessons is that "our patients don't speak. We can't ask them what's happened to them. So we rely very much on what a client is telling us." He said up to 90 per cent of vets will encounter a case of cruelty or neglect in their careers, but many hesitate to report it. "The training that we're providing is hopefully providing more confidence, more knowledge, more techniques, more skills for students to rely upon," Bateman said. Crimes against animals are supposed to be reported to Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS), which then investigates and follows up with veterinarians. PAWS, a government agency under the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General, declined to be interviewed for this article. OSPCA, student reacts Dr. Jill Kirk, chief veterinary officer for the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society, told CBC News that this training should be essential. "If you're just, you know, doing your routine exam, you might miss some signs that might raise a red flag or two. If you have the training, that will show you exactly what to look for." Kirk has a certificate in forensic veterinary sciences from the University of Florida. She said she's had to use her training several times over her career. "It's up to veterinarians like me who work in humane societies where animals get surrendered, but it's also up to the general private practitioner, just for them to know what signs to look for, to say, 'Hey, something's not right here.' "It's not our job as veterinarians to prove that abuse or neglect exists. It's our job to report it." Founded in Toronto in 1862, the OVC moved to Guelph in 1922. It ranks as the top veterinary college in the country and is in the sixth spot internationally, according to the higher education analytics firm QS. The school offers two four-year undergraduate programs — doctor of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences for future veterinarians — as well as graduate programs. Fourth-year veterinary student Diana Fitzgerald chose the forensic rotation as an elective, drawn by her interest in animal welfare. "It feels like it goes hand in hand with the forensic sciences," she said. "You can tell so much about the past affective states an animal may have gone through by focusing in on forensic work." Fitzgerald said it's been "a very valuable experience split between classroom learning and the crime scene investigation." Fitzgerald believes it will help her in practice. "Now, having taken this rotation, I'll feel better prepared if a case were to come to me that is giving off the signs of potential for neglect or abuse. I'll be able to better recognize those who help the animal." For her, it's also about gratitude. "There's not too many educational institutions that offer learning experiences like this," she said. "We all feel so grateful to learn from somebody so knowledgeable." Bateman hopes that sentiment will carry forward into the profession. "Veterinarians are well educated. We know a lot about animal welfare, we know a lot about animal behaviour, we know a lot about the human animal bond," he said. "What we need to focus on is how do we close that gap? How do we give veterinarians the confidence and skills to be able to follow through on their instincts when they think that there's something that's not quite right?" In other words, Bateman wants to make sure that when animals can't speak for themselves, someone is ready to speak for them.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Southern Indiana and Buffalo play in NIT
Buffalo Bulls (26-7, 14-6 MAC) at Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (23-12, 14-9 OVC) Evansville, Indiana; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Southern Indiana plays Buffalo in the National Invitation Tournament. The Screaming Eagles' record in OVC play is 14-9, and their record is 9-3 in non-conference play. Southern Indiana leads the OVC with 23.9 defensive rebounds per game led by Vanessa Shafford averaging 5.0. Advertisement The Bulls' record in MAC play is 14-6. Buffalo scores 73.5 points while outscoring opponents by 13.3 points per game. Southern Indiana averages 71.5 points, 11.3 more per game than the 60.2 Buffalo gives up. Buffalo scores 10.5 more points per game (73.5) than Southern Indiana gives up (63.0). TOP PERFORMERS: Meredith Raley is averaging 14.5 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Screaming Eagles. Shafford is averaging 12.2 points over the past 10 games. Chellia Watson averages 1.4 made 3-pointers per game for the Bulls, scoring 20.5 points while shooting 31.9% from beyond the arc. Kirsten Lewis-Williams is averaging 12.7 points and 2.8 steals over the past 10 games. Advertisement LAST 10 GAMES: Screaming Eagles: 6-4, averaging 71.1 points, 34.7 rebounds, 15.5 assists, 8.2 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.7 points per game. Bulls: 7-3, averaging 70.0 points, 26.0 rebounds, 17.3 assists, 11.1 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.3 points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Southern Indiana and Buffalo play in NIT
Buffalo Bulls (26-7, 14-6 MAC) at Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (23-12, 14-9 OVC) BOTTOM LINE: Southern Indiana plays Buffalo in the National Invitation Tournament. The Screaming Eagles' record in OVC play is 14-9, and their record is 9-3 in non-conference play. Southern Indiana leads the OVC with 23.9 defensive rebounds per game led by Vanessa Shafford averaging 5.0. The Bulls' record in MAC play is 14-6. Buffalo scores 73.5 points while outscoring opponents by 13.3 points per game. Southern Indiana averages 71.5 points, 11.3 more per game than the 60.2 Buffalo gives up. Buffalo scores 10.5 more points per game (73.5) than Southern Indiana gives up (63.0). TOP PERFORMERS: Meredith Raley is averaging 14.5 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Screaming Eagles. Shafford is averaging 12.2 points over the past 10 games. Chellia Watson averages 1.4 made 3-pointers per game for the Bulls, scoring 20.5 points while shooting 31.9% from beyond the arc. Kirsten Lewis-Williams is averaging 12.7 points and 2.8 steals over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Screaming Eagles: 6-4, averaging 71.1 points, 34.7 rebounds, 15.5 assists, 8.2 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.7 points per game. Bulls: 7-3, averaging 70.0 points, 26.0 rebounds, 17.3 assists, 11.1 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.3 points. ___
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Louisiana Tech meets Lindenwood (MO) in NIT
Lindenwood (MO) Lions (23-10, 17-5 OVC) at Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters (17-15, 9-11 CUSA) Ruston, Louisiana; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Louisiana Tech and Lindenwood (MO) square off in the National Invitation Tournament. The Lady Techsters' record in CUSA games is 9-11, and their record is 8-4 against non-conference opponents. Louisiana Tech ranks third in the CUSA with 23.4 defensive rebounds per game led by Jordan Marshall averaging 5.4. The Lions' record in OVC play is 17-5. Lindenwood (MO) is sixth in the OVC with 22.3 defensive rebounds per game led by Brooke Coffey averaging 5.3. Louisiana Tech scores 66.3 points per game, 1.3 more points than the 65.0 Lindenwood (MO) gives up. Lindenwood (MO) has shot at a 43.6% clip from the field this season, 3.3 percentage points above the 40.3% shooting opponents of Louisiana Tech have averaged. TOP PERFORMERS: Paris Bradley is averaging 14 points for the Lady Techsters. Marshall is averaging 11.0 points and 10.0 rebounds while shooting 47.1% over the last 10 games. Mykayla Cunningham is averaging 7.5 points and 3.1 assists for the Lions. Ellie Brueggemann is averaging 11.6 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Lady Techsters: 4-6, averaging 65.5 points, 33.3 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 5.6 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 40.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.2 points per game. Lions: 7-3, averaging 70.7 points, 30.6 rebounds, 14.8 assists, 8.1 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.3 points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Washington Post
22-03-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Southern Indiana plays Campbell in NIT matchup
Campbell Camels (22-12, 14-7 CAA) at Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (22-12, 14-9 OVC) Evansville, Indiana; Sunday, 7 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Southern Indiana squares off against Campbell in the National Invitation Tournament. The Screaming Eagles are 14-9 against OVC opponents and 8-3 in non-conference play. Southern Indiana leads the OVC with 23.9 defensive rebounds per game led by Vanessa Shafford averaging 5.0.
