State Of The Art Opportunities And Challenges In The Use Of Medical Detection Dogs In The Laboratory And In The Field

Laboratory animals, including dogs, play an important role in biomedical research and medical advances. Dogs have a long history of use in research and have contributed enormously to the health and welfare of both humans and animals. The humane care and management of these animals is a fundamental component of their use in medical research. The Laboratory Canine clearly presents basic background information covering subjects that apply specifically to dogs used in research settings, such as basic biological features, husbandry, management, veterinary care, experimental methodology, and resources. The book offers guidance on performing a detailed physical examination, including necessary veterinary supplies, clinical signs of illness, clinical conditions, and reference tables of widely used veterinary drugs. It discusses the human-animal bond or the relationship between people and animals and its significance and importance to the quality of research, the health of the animals, and the emotional health of staff caring for or working with animals. It also examines anesthetic and surgical procedures that include pre-, intra-, and post-anesthesia/operative monitoring. The Laboratory Canine contains reference charts for monitoring patients through post-operative recovery and reference tables for anesthetics and analgesics. Because dogs are a highly visible species in the eyes of the public and regulators, it is important that individuals working with laboratory canines have the proper training and experience. This valuable resource is ideal for those charged with the care and use of canines in a research setting.

Scores of talented and dedicated people serve the forensic science community, performing vitally important work. However, they are often constrained by lack of adequate resources, sound policies, and national support. It is clear that change and advancements, both systematic and scientific, are needed in a number of forensic science disciplines to ensure the reliability of work, establish enforceable standards, and promote best practices with consistent application. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward provides a detailed plan for addressing these needs and suggests the creation of a new government entity, the National Institute of Forensic Science, to establish and enforce standards within the forensic science community. The benefits of improving and regulating the forensic science disciplines are clear: assisting law enforcement officials, enhancing homeland security, and reducing the risk of wrongful conviction and exoneration. Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States gives a full account of what is needed to advance the forensic science disciplines, including upgrading of systems and organizational structures, better training, widespread adoption of uniform and enforceable best practices, and mandatory certification and accreditation programs. While this book provides an essential call-to-action for congress and policy makers, it also serves as a vital tool for law enforcement agencies, criminal prosecutors and attorneys, and forensic science educators.

The confirmed case of "mad cow" disease (BSE) in June 2005 illustrates the economic impact of disease outbreaks, as additional countries closed their markets to U.S. beef and beef products. Emerging diseases also threaten public health-11 out of 12 of the major global disease outbreaks over the last decade were from zoonotic agents (that spread from animals to humans). Animal Health at the Crossroads: Preventing, Detecting, and Diagnosing Animal Diseases finds that, in general, the U.S. animal health framework has been slow to take advantage of state-of-the-art technologies being used now to protect public health; better diagnostic tests for identifying all animal diseases should be made a priority. The report also recommends that the nation establish a high-level, authoritative, and accountable coordinating mechanism to engage and enhance partnerships among local, state, and federal agencies, and the private sector.

Since Canis lupus familiaris first shared a fire with man more than 15,000 years ago, dogs have been trusted and valued coworkers. Yet the relatively new field of canine ergonomics is just beginning to unravel the secrets of this collaboration. As with many new fields, the literature on working dogs is scattered across several non-overlapping disci