News for Florida animal advocates

Have you ever heard of the “European approach” to confronting dog and cat overpopulation? Apparently, it has something to do with breeding animals for fun and profit.

Friday’s Gainesville Sun reported on a University of Florida professor and his wife who have sued the university after an obstetrics/gynecology program that they ran was eliminated as part of university-wide budget cuts.

Drs. John Verstegen and Karin Verstegen-Onclin came to Florida from Belgium in 2004 to run the program, which, according to the paper, “offered services such as artificial insemination and a sperm bank used by breeders of show dogs.”

The Dean of UF’s College of Veterinary Medicine explained that the program, “was one that was not as critical to the mission of the college.” We definitely agree. But collectors of pure-bred dogs are trying to save the program. Local chow-chow breeder Terry Tapp told the paper that the program was about “responsible breeding.” For his part, Verstegen claimed that he was working to bring a European approach of controlling animal populations to the U.S. The approach was described as “educating animal owners about responsible reproduction.” We don’t know what country in Europe he’s referring to, but “responsible” breeding hasn’t worked so well in Florida. Hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats are killed in Florida shelters each year.

You Can Help
Contact the Dean of UF’s College of Veterinary Medicine and urge him to resist calls to reinstate the program. (And thank the college for its support of programs that truly are working to solve the dog and cat overpopulation problem, such as Operation Catnip, a free spay-neuter clinic for cats).

Contact:
Glen Hoffsis, Dean
College of Veterinary Medicine
E-mail: mcgriffr@vetmed.ufl.edu (e-mail the Dean via his assistant)

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