Newspapers / InterCom (Durham, N.C.) / April 1, 1966, edition 1 / Page 4
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It’s a Dog’s Life, and It’s a G Dr. LeMay . . . “fully involved with the humane treatment of animals.” “I am fully involved in tlie humane treatment of animals; it is my liveli hood,” said Dr. John LeMay, Chairman of the Duke Unversity Department of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. LeMay’s department is responsible for facilitating teaching and research and assuming the care of the 15,000 ani mals maintained by the medical center. The first formally trained person in laboratory animal medicine in the coun try, Dr. LeMay completed his post-doc toral training at Bowman Gray and came to Duke in July, 1961, to establish the department of veterinary medicine. Since 1961 the department has experi enced rapid growth. Its staff ha.s in creased from nine to fifty, and this lias meant a subsequent increase in the vari ety and number of animals that can be cared for. For example, the daily cen sus of the dog population last year reached 1250, almost six times what it was in 1961. Assisting Dr. LeMay are veterinarians Dr. Roger Costellanos and Dr. B. P. Sherwood. “Dr. Costellanos, Dr. Sherwood, and I see about 5,000 ‘patients’ a day; so I guess you eould say we have the largest m Bogs are processed at the diagnostic center before being carried to the new quarantine building. patient practice at Duke,” said Dr. Le May with a smile. Although many animals are under the care of the department (the Hillsbor ough facility houses rabbits, sheep, goats, and guinea pigs), this article is mainly concerned with the dog population. The larger segment of the depart ment’s animal population is comprised of dogs (7200 dogs were processed last year), and much work goes into caring for them. The department has contractual agree ments with county dog pounds in a twenty-county area and buys dogs only from those pounds. (Only when neces sary for special research are dogs ever bought from individuals, and proof of ownership is required in such cases.) The dogs are first brought to the an imal diagnostic laboratory center (dubbed “the Ponderosa” by care takers). There they are kept until ready to be moved to the new quarantine building. The dogs are separated into different pons. Puppies, expectant mothers, sick dogs, well dogs, and trouble makers are put into separate pens, ilothers are kept with their litters until the pup pies are weaned. All of this area is fenced in, and an an imal caretaker lives on the grounds. At present, about 600 dogs are in the facili ty- The men who work with the dogs are carefully selected; because, as Dr. Le May said, “a dog responds to the care and treatment he receives.” While at this first facility, the dogs are assigned permanent numbers and are given identification tags. Diagnostic procedures for heart worms, etc., are conducted, any necessary treatment is begun, and shots of vitamins A, D, and E are given. They are then put \inder general anesthesia, while blood samples are taken, identification numbers are tatooed on their ears, and they are de vocalized. The devocalization of the dogs began when the veterinarians found that it offered numerous advantages. The dogs are not as restless when devocalized, nor as frightened, w'ith each other, their general hea the dogs can sti vocalized, their b Daily entries £ permanent recor of his teeth, ski: prescribed, and c health. Dr. LeMay pc only two or thr( rival, improveme the physical hea the dogs. A second exa: the dogs are rea new' quarantine w'ill be kept for a and usually for t are kept at the i periods of time, ing used in lonj breeding, or unti gator.) The diagnosti quarantine build short driving dis 130-acre tract of for veterinary The quarantii pleted this past at it leads to th( ing a dog’s life pleasant experie Sun-drenched for activity and dogs desire. heated floors nij perature of 72 . cages include flo to the “runs”) can let theniselv which fill auton water. The ca cleaned twice a Here, as in t^ records are kept attention is paid This facility ining room, a h search area, and selected for spec It’s a dog’s H INTERCOM - 4
InterCom (Durham, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 1, 1966, edition 1
4
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