Mary Stegmueller and her parents after she received her honorary degree from Colorado State University (Image courtesy of Mariah Hood) 

Mary Stegmueller was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare form of cancer that targets the brain stem, when she was 4 years old and was given a prognosis of 9 months. However, she is beating that now 3 years.

 Kristin Stegmueller, Mary’s mother, had brought their family cat, Freyja, to the National Veterinary Associates (NVA) Community Pet Hospital (CPH) in Thornton, Colorado, and she shared with the staff her daughter's love for animals and her dream to be a veterinarian when she grows up but fears she would not be able to achieve that dream. To help Mary, Marie Tavenner, hospital director at CPH, stepped up to create a day for Stegmueller that no one involved will ever forget.

On November 14, 2023, CPH hosted a surprise graduation ceremony for Stegmueller. Dressed in a purple cap and gown, Stegmueller claimed her honorary Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Colorado State University (CSU).

 Facilitated by Lawrence Hill, DVM, DABVP (canine and feline), an NVA general practice mentor and associate veterinary at the Animal Hospital of Worthington, Ohio, and Dan Smeak, DVM, DACVS, an emeritus professor at CSU.

“It was a day we will never forget,” expressed Kristin Stegmueller, in the organizational release.

 “Not only getting to see our daughter laugh and enjoy checking the animals but getting to see her ‘graduate’ brought tears to our eyes. Something we know we may never get to see again.”

Ready to go in her custom purple scrubs, a white coat with her name embroidered on it, and a purple stethoscope, thanks to Brandy McGreer, a CPH veterinarian and a survivor of breast cancer, Stegmueller was ready to learn and see patients. Along with her attire, Stegmueller also received an honorary AVMA membership certificate from Sandra Faeh, DVM, AVMA president-elect and chief veterinary officer for NVA.

Stegmueller examining X-rays with Teresa Borys, DVM, PCH medical director, with foster kitten Edith. 

With her new attire and AVMA membership, Stegmueller was ready to get to work at the clinic. Teresa Borys, DVM, PCH medical director, showed Stegmueller how to use a stethoscope on a dog and then she assisted with a feline patient who was in the clinic for an annual visit. Darcy Klinger, CPH lead veterinary technician, brought a litter of foster kittens to the hospital and taught Stegmueller how to interpret kitten x-rays.

“Even though Mary is fighting this horrible disease, she was so happy. To know we got to be a part of that, it’s something that no one can ever take away from us,” said Tavenner. “I’ve never felt closer to the team here than on that day. It was like nothing else mattered; it was just about this little girl and her family.”

Stegmueller and her family received an invitation from CSU for a private tour of its veterinary teaching hospital. At the hospital, she learned more about veterinary medicine and was able to watch a dog receiving radiation treatment.

 After leaving the hospital, Stegmueller said her favorite part was meeting the animals who are undergoing the same treatments that she is familiar with.

The next day, Stegmueller begged to go to school after her radiation treatment so she could tell her classmates about her time at the hospital. At school, she gave a presentation, telling her classmates they could bring their sick pets to see her, and proudly handed out her business cards. Since receiving her honorary degree, Stegmueller has made more visits to CPH where she was able to meet Santa as he was taking photos with patients and staff as well as to sell Girl Scout cookies to the team at CPH.

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Accessed February 22, 2024. 

https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/diffuse-intrinsic-pontine-glioma

Veterinary community grants wish for animal-loving girl with cancer. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. February 21, 2024. Accessed February 22, 2024. 

https://www.avma.org/news/veterinary-community-grants-wish-animal-loving-girl-cancer

Articles

Mary Stegmueller was diagnosed a rare form of cancer at age 4 and was able to fulfill her dream of becoming a veterinarian 

Seven-year-old receives honorary veterinary degree 

On February 20, 2024, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) assisted in the removal of more than 90 maltreated dogs from the property of a self-claimed animal rescue in Vernon Township, New Jersey, requested by the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office and the Vernon Township Police Department.

 According to a news release, the dogs found, including young puppies, were confiscated by law enforcement because of the unsanitary living conditions they were discovered in. The animals were surrounded by their waste and exposed to elevated ammonia levels. Some of the animals exhibited soiled and severely tangled fur, with 1 dog suffering from ingrown nails so long that they matted into the fur. Additionally, some dogs were malnourished and were dealing with untreated medical issues such as eye infections and injuries. Sadly, several deceased dogs were found on the premises, too.

Acting Supervising Assistant Prosecutor/Special Deputy Attorney General, Brent Rafuse of the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office has formally charged the property owners, Gizela Juric and Ronald Colgan, in a criminal complaint comprising 6 counts of animal cruelty. These charges come from the mistreatment that led to the death of dogs on the property, as well as neglecting to acquire necessary veterinary care for the remaining animals. This is not the first time Gizela Juric has faced animal cruelty charges. On February 2, 2024, Juric was charged with the death of a dog under her supervision.

"The ASPCA is grateful to be in a position where we can collaborate with local agencies across the country to provide critical resources and expertise to rescue at-risk animals and bring them to safety," said Teresa Ladner, senior director of investigations for the ASPCA in the release. "It's clear these dogs were not receiving adequate treatment despite the fact that they were under the care of a self-described animal rescue group, and we commend the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office and the Vernon Township Police Department for intervening to help end their suffering."

The ASPCA is relocating the dogs to its Cruelty Recovery Center, an establishment dedicated to offering temporary shelter, medical attention, and behavioral therapy to animals rescued from emergencies, including instances of suspected cruelty and neglect.

 In addition, the ASPCA is actively involved in operational planning, evidence collection, crime scene processing, veterinary forensics examinations, and behavior assessments that are currently in progress. Pending the collection of evidence by the ASPCA and the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office, animal cruelty charges are anticipated.

The ASPCA is contributing investigative and legal support to enhance the ongoing inquiry and prosecution efforts, ensuring the optimal legal outcome for the animals involved. It is essential to note that the charges are allegations at this stage, as the charges have not yet gone to court and the defendant has not yet been proven guilty.

More than 90 maltreated dogs and puppies seized from self-described animal rescue group in New Jersey. News release. ASPCA. February 21, 2024. Accessed February 22, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/more-than-90-maltreated-dogs-and-puppies-seized-from-self-described-animal-rescue-group-in-new-jersey-302067868.html

A self-claimed animal rescue group in Vernon Township, NJ is facing animal cruelty charges

Dogs rescued from living in filthy conditions in New Jersey

Dr Fejes is discussing the open concept of Veterinary Emergency Group

Interview with Jess Fejes, VMD

Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) officially opened its second Philadelphia location located at 180 W Girard Avenue, Unit 201A, on Thursday, February 8, 2024. The hospital, located in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of the city, is equipped with ultrasounds, x-rays, and surgery areas to provide the community with emergency care for their pets in need.

“When a pet parent walks into VEG Northern Liberties, they will immediately feel they have finally found a place that will provide their family and pet the best emergency veterinary experience that exists,” said David Bessler, VMD, VEG founder and CEO. “Upon entering VEG Northern Liberties, pet parents will feel a sigh of relief and comfort, as they are greeted with a friendly smile, empathetic attitude, and luxury comforts for them, and their pet.”

The newest location will be open 24/7 and have an open floor concept, allowing pet parents to see first-hand any life-saving measures needed. The clinic also gives pet parents access to a veterinarian as soon as they call to have their questions answered and then the VEG team triages pets as soon as they walk in the door. The open concept allows pet owners to stay with their pets from the beginning of treatment to the end, including surgeries and overnight hospitalization. For those who are not comfortable with the open concept or prefer to have a more private experience, VEG also has exam rooms ready to go for pets.

“I always think about if I was bringing my pet to the emergency room, what would I want [and] how would I want to be treated. It's stressful, right? Like if your pet is sick, you're worried [and] you might not want to know what's going on with them, you probably don't know exactly what's going on with them. So being able to stay with your pet is just such a comfort and a relief,” expressed Jess Fejes, VMD, medical director of VEG Northern Liberties, in an interview with 

An inside look at the new VEG Hospital in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia (Image courtesy of Caitlin McCafferty, Editor) 

“A lot of times it's not like with your primary care veterinarian out where you probably have this existing relationship. You know them and you trust them. So I think having this transparency in what we're doing, what we're recommending all of that that's going on, is really helpful and kind of easing that that worry,” she concluded.

Veterinary Emergency Group opens revolutionary emergency pet care in Northern Liberties. News release. Veterinary Emergency Group. January 29, 2024. Accessed February 22, 2204.

Pet owners in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia welcomed a Veterinary Emergency Group hospital earlier this month 

Emergency veterinary clinic opens second Philadelphia location 

Researchers at Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS), Baylor College of Medicine, and Texas Children’s Hospital announced they have discovered that meningiomas are extremely similar genetically in dogs and cats. The similarities the researchers discovered will allow doctors to use a classification system that identifies aggressive tumors in both humans and dogs. The findings will also create new opportunities for collaboration between animal and human medicine.

“The discovery that naturally occurring canine tumors closely resemble their human counterparts opens numerous avenues for exploring the biology of these challenging tumors,” said Akash Patel, MD, an associate professor of neurosurgery at Baylor College of Medicine and principal investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children’s Hospital, in an organizational release.

 “It also provides opportunities for developing and studying novel treatments applicable to both humans and dogs.”

The study, which was recently published on February 20, 2024, in 

analyzed 62 canine meningiomas from 27 dog breeds and learned that tumors shared remarkable similarities to the kinds of tumors occurring in humans.

According to the release, this is the largest study of the gene expression profiles of canine meningiomas to date.

Patel’s team, along with work previously completed by Jonathan Levine, DVM, VMBS professor and head of the department of small animal clinical sciences, and Beth Boudreau, PhD, DVM, explored gliomas, another brain tumor. Patel worked alongside others at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital and found that there are 3 biologically distinct subtypes for classifying meningiomas in humans, MegG, A, B, and C, by analyzing the patient's RNA.

 Through this new classification system, they were able to predict patient outcomes with better accuracy than a standard tissue sample analysis.

Levine, Boudreau, and other VMBS colleagues and the Jackson Laboratory for Genetic Medicine discovered there are genetic similarities between gliomas in humans and dogs.

 After learning of these advancements, Patel reached out to Levine to see if there was interest in applying what they have learned to study meningiomas. Because there is a lack of reliable and viable experimental models, medical professors have faced barriers when trying to better understand the biology and develop effective treatments against these brain tumors.

“We ended up agreeing to provide Patel with canine tumor samples we had worked years and years to archive, to see if he could isolate the RNA, which is not always easy to do,” Levine said. “He was able to produce this very robust dataset that showed a similar pattern structure to human tumors. Our team also provided Dr Patel with key clinical outcome data, including responses to certain treatments.”

Since a connection has been established, researchers are working to begin preparation for a clinical trial. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have conducted a similar study with matching conclusions for similarities between human and canine meningiomas and published their results in the same journal. The 2 groups are planning to collaborate in the future to develop a treatment for both dogs and humans.

“We’re really interested in creating wins for both human and animal medicine,” Levine said. “For example, we hope to give dog owners access to therapy that’s not available anywhere else in the world through clinical trials. At the same time, that information will also inform the next step of human trials.”

The next step for researchers is to continue going through the data from both studies to see if anything can lead to potential new therapies.

Texas A&M researchers find links between human, canine brain tumors. News release. Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. February 20, 2024. Accessed February 22, 2024. 

https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/homepage/texas-am-researchers-find-links-between-human-canine-brain-tumor-detection-markers/

Harmanci AS, Boudreau B, Lau S, et al. Aggressive human MenG C meningiomas have a molecular counterpart in canines. 

. 2024;147(1):42. Published 2024 Feb 20. doi:10.1007/s00401-024-02692-3

Human doctors and veterinary professionals are working together to find a better way to diagnose and treat this common brain tumor

Researchers find link between human and canine brain tumor detection markers 

Photo credit: San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) has been in partnership with researchers in China for almost 30 years in which the organization is focused on protecting and recovering giant pandas. After signing a cooperative agreement with China Wildlife Conservation Association and filing a permit application with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, giant pandas have been welcomed back to the San Diego Zoo.

"We are humbled by the potential opportunity of continuing our collaborative conservation efforts to secure the future for giant pandas. As such, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is taking important steps to ensure we are prepared for a potential return. This includes sharing our detailed conservation plans with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure alignment for the greater benefit of giant pandas," said Megan Owen, PhD, vice president of Conservation Science in a news release.

The ongoing partnership has aimed at improving scientific understanding of giant panda biology, the care and wellness they need, and how they can still thrive in a changing climate. SDZWA and the China Wildlife Conservation Association combined efforts to downgrade the giant panda from “endangered” to “vulnerable” in 2021 on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

 With this huge progression, the 2 organizations are continuously working toward creating an even better future for giant pandas and other wildlife.

Key discoveries made possible through this partnership include reproductive behavior, physiology, nutritional needs, habitat requirements, and genetic investigations. The following are some examples of innovative research and achievements made:

The formulation of a specialized milk formula for giant pandas and the implementation of neonatal conservation techniques resulted in a remarkable surge in survival rates for nursery-reared cubs from 5% to 95%.

A successful artificial insemination of a giant panda outside of China.

Chinese scientists have been utilizing GPS technology to track wild giant pandas at the Foping National Nature Reserve.

SDZWA is currently focused on improving giant pandas’ biggest challenge today with climate change, habitat fragmentation, and population isolation.

"Pandas in our care and in the care of Chinese colleagues at conservation facilities play an important role as assurance against extinction and loss of genetic diversity in their native habitats, as well as a source population for reintroductions," said Owen. "Our partnership over the decades has served as a powerful example of how—when we work together—we can achieve what was once thought to be impossible. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is uniquely positioned to collaborate toward a shared goal of creating a sustainable future for giant pandas."

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and China Wildlife Conservation Association sign a new cooperative agreement for giant panda collaboration. News release. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. February 22, 2024. Accessed February 22, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/san-diego-zoo-wildlife-alliance-and-china-wildlife-conservation-association-sign-a-new-cooperative-agreement-for-giant-panda-collaboration-302068429.html

This comes after signing a cooperative agreement with China Wildlife Conservation Association

San Diego Zoo welcomes back giant pandas

Георгий Лыкин / stock.adobe.com

Happy National Wildlife Day and happy birthday to the late Steve Irwin! Wildlife encompasses a diverse array of animal species, with unique natural habitats that contribute to the overall ecosystem of the Earth. Steve Irwin, known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was an Australian wildlife enthusiast, conservationist, and television personality, renowned for his passion for and dedication to educating the public about wildlife and its conservation. To celebrate wildlife and Steve Irwin, we have put together 3 articles from the first baby gorilla to be born via Caesarean section at the Fort Worth Zoo, a snow leopard with a fractured tooth, to a keynote presentation from Terri and Robert Irwin.

The Fort Worth Zoo shared that on January 5, 2024, it welcomed Jameela, a female baby gorilla. She is the third baby gorilla to be born at the zoo but has become 

the first to be born via Caesarean section

Trini, a 10-year-old female snow leopard at the Micke Grove Zoo in Lodi, California had her annual examination upcoming, but zoo caretakers noticed a 

Terri and Robert shared their love for veterinary medicine and how highly she and her late husband, 

Spotlighting 3 articles on wildlife and wildlife researchers