Does anyone out there have any personal experiences of a clash of ideals or conflict of conscience, whether from a vegetarian/vegan point of view or an anti-vivisection (animal experiment) point of view, while undergoing veterinary training or veterinary nurse training? I have been asked for advice on this issue by a prospective veterinary student and would be very interested to learn of current experiences.

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

The CERN LHC (Large Hadron Collider - is that something to do with Hagrid?) is quite beyond me - I'm out of my depth, of course. Nonetheless, it's fun to think and I won't be the only person to write something about this without any proper understanding!

It's quite clearly an amazing feat of design, engineering and construction. Good job they didn't have that chap on board, who designed the Millennium Bridge in London.

The scientists involved appear to be very excited at the prospect of learning some real stuff about the origins of the universe. However, if this simulates the real thing, that happened so long ago, who accelerated the particles to the speed of light, cooled the whole thing down to absolute zero and set protons on collision course for the original Big Bang?

Where did they come from, where did all this take place and what was it that went Bang anyway?

Where this becomes slightly and obliquely relevant to my field is the wonderment that it stokes again in my mind, how so-called and self-styled 'scientists' can say 'homeopathy can't work' when they (like me) understand nothing of such deep physics (and bioenergetics). Many moons ago, when the A.E.R.E. was in existence at Harwell, I had to talk to a group of nuclear physicists engaged in atomic research. They were quite happy that homeopathy might work! They really enjoyed the discussion. If real boffins like that have no theoretical problems with it, how do comparatively ignorant medical and veterinary types take it upon themselves to rubbish it?

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

Loyal friend or potential nemesis?

There's a challenging article that was published in the Telegraph Supplement (called 'Seven') during August, entitled Mad Cows (and Livid Lambs). In it, Will Storr reports on the findings and theories of Dr Marc Bekoff (inter alia) about the massive recent increase in animal attacks on humans. The attacks described do appear to show a pattern of spiteful and targeted attacks by wild animals on mankind around the world, including badger, shark, stingray, elephant, big cat, bear, crocodile and others. There is the possibility that the animal world is turning on its arch-torturer and main threat (mankind).

It makes interesting and disturbing reading and it is difficult to dismiss out of hand some of the theories put forward. It's well worth a read and appraisal. However, some of the images are gruesome to say the least, so not for the faint-hearted. Happily, you don't need to find a back copy of the Telegraph, if you wish to read it:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/08/10/sv_animals.xml&page=3

Apart from being totally absorbed while reading the piece, I must say that one thing stands out, in my opinion, and that's the comment of Professor Peter Carruthers (University of Sheffield), stating that animals don't consciously feel pain! What some academics will say for attention (or laughs). If he's right, that would spell the end of RSPCA prosecutions in one fell swoop.

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

Further to the 'Poor Imitations' blog of 3rd September:

Oh dear - vet Joe Inglis's 'campaign for real pet food' and better labelling of pet foods may be a little compromised by the fact that he has his own range of pet foods. Vested interest is not a good platform for an altruistic campaign. A high-profile campaign's a good way to raise the profile of your own brand, though.

As for the 'natural' tag on the food - what's natural about processed foods, 'complete foods' and the freeze-drying process? Doesn't the Trade Descriptions Act cover that sort of thing?

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

While applauding any attempt to 'clean up' the pet food industry act, two recent moves can only be seen as window dressing.

Firstly, vet Joe Inglis's campaign to tighten up pet food labelling, while obviously a step in the right direction, could, if successful, give more respectability to misleading or 'economical' labelling. He has the profile. Why not go the whole hog and advocate fresh feeding? To make comparisons with Jamie Oliver's campaign for human food is not appropriate since, while saying natural food is best, he has not openly condemned processed food for pets. Additives and generic labelling are not the only evils. Much of modern processing destroys the food.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1050954/Pets-bad-diet-develop-behaviour-problems-says-vet-leading-Jamie-Oliver-style-crusade.html

Furthermore, the proposed trial on 'hearing dogs for the deaf' will be nothing short of animal experimentation, which should be beneath him.

Secondly, the new pet food range by 'Pedigree®' illustrates how the manufacturers are willing to hijack the 'natural' tag and fudge the issues with their advertising. The range is called 'Better by Nature™'. This range neatly pre-empts the above campaign (I assume and hope there's no link here but the timing is impeccable, even uncanny). It is still processed to hell and back and should never be confused with the real thing.

http://www.pedigreebetterbynature.com/betterbynature/Homepage/index.aspx

This campaign is bound to net millions, if not billions, for an already bloated industry. The industry is worth $45 billion in the U.S. alone (over $14 billion in Western Europe). Not bad for an industry that shouldn't exist at all. Don't be confused by campaign 'hype' and advertising gimmicks. Get down to the real issue. If processed (freeze-dried or canned) food is best for our dogs, we should be eating like that too! If fresh is best for us (preferably organic), then likewise, it's best for our dogs and cats.

Garish supermarket display

I shouldn't moan, I suppose. The petfood industry is possibly the main reason I'm in business, trying to clear up the health mess it leaves in its wake!

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]