by Fran Jurga | 13 July 2009 | The Jurga Report

Dr. Doug Corey at work. (AVMC photo)

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is meeting in Seattle, Washington this week. Most of the news coming from the convention is about PETA’s protest over the fish-handling demonstration going on at the Pike Place fish market, but there’s plenty of educational and administrative work for the US veterinary profession underway. The wheels are turning!

One aspect of the convention this year that caught my eye was that our old friend Dr. Doug Corey received the AVMA’s President’s Award this year. That is quite an honor. Dr. Corey is a past president of the AAEP and has been active in trying to at least get some rules on the books for how livestock is treated at rodeos.

Here’s an official rundown on Dr. Corey’s lifetime achievements, as sent by the AVMA:

“Douglas G. Corey, DVM received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University and is currently a partner at Associated Veterinary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington. Since entering the profession he has been active in organized veterinary medicine and has devoted much of his attention to horse welfare issues.

“Dr. Corey is a past president and board member of the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association and was honored as the Oregon Veterinarian of the Year in 1997. He has served on the board of directors of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and has chaired their Research, Public Relations, Membership, Equine Welfare and 50th Anniversary Committees. He is an active member of the AVMA and has chaired the Association’s Animal Welfare Committee

“Dr. Corey was instrumental in establishing a full-time animal welfare position at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and helped develop minimum care guidelines for rodeo livestock and other welfare rules and guidelines for the PRCA. He has served on the Advisory Council to the PRCA on Animal Welfare for 23 years and has chaired the organization’s Veterinary Advisory Committee. He is a member of the American Horse Council’s Equine Welfare Committee and serves each year as the National Final Rodeo’s on call veterinarian for media relations.”

I would also add to those accomplishments that on June 15, the Unwanted Horse Coalition of the American Horse Council announced that Dr. Corey will serve as Vice Chairman of the UHC.

Congratulations to Dr. Corey!