A 46-year-old in Wilmington, N.C., was charged with reckless driving, driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident, among other charges, after crashing into the gas line of a new veterinary clinic that was a few weeks away from opening. Fortunately, no workers or animals were in the building at the time, but four firefighters were injured battling the blaze. Clinic administrator Gary Walker says the facility was four years in the making, and the team will assess options.

Placing feeders at shoulder height of the smallest bird in the flock is a simple way to maintain the welfare of small poultry flocks, says poultry veterinarian Rocio Crespo, a professor at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Birds should have ready access to clean water, quality feed, protection from predators and space to behave naturally, Dr. Crespo said in a presentation at AVMA Convention 2025.

A resident of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., who was camping recently has been diagnosed with plague. Fleas infected with Yersinia pestis are common in many parts of California, including at high elevations. "It's important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking and or camping in areas where wild rodents are present," said Kyle Fliflet, acting director of public health for El Dorado County.

Iowa State University has received $1 million through a federal cooperative agreement to enhance avian influenza preparedness. The funding, in collaboration with the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, will support the development of biosecurity measures and guidelines at the university's Center for Food Security and Public Health.

A juvenile Asian longhorned tick was found recently in Cumberland County, Maine, through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension's tick surveillance program. The invasive species can reproduce asexually and can transmit pathogenic Theileria orientalis. State public health officials urged veterinarians to advise livestock and pet owners about effective tick prevention, and animal owners should conduct thorough tick checks regularly and eliminate tick habitats on their properties.

A Dallas Police Department K-9 was hospitalized this week for heat-related illness after helping to search for suspects in temperatures reaching 103 degrees. The dog was initially treated at a local animal clinic before being transferred to an emergency veterinary hospital.

Habitat fragmentation is threatening the survival of the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, Michigan's only venomous snake species, according to a 15-year study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Habitat fragmentation is creating isolated populations that inbreed, reducing survival rates and reproductive success. The snake is an ecologically important species that keeps rodent populations in check.

A recent FlexJobs report highlights that 55% of Americans aged 20 to 35 have faced a "quarter-life" career crisis, experiencing deep uncertainty about their roles and futures in the workforce. This phenomenon is not just a passing trend, but a significant concern impacting employee mental health and workplace productivity. The crisis is particularly acute in this age group as they try to establish stable careers amid industry changes and economic turbulence.