Bring it on! PIJAC Canada's Post-Secondary Scholarship Competition Begins

Reward your best and brightest:  If you have a staff or family member who is studying to be the next star of the pet world, then we have a scholarship for them. PIJAC Canada's 9th annual scholarship competition is now open. Educated professionals are the foundation of a successful pet sector. As Canada's pet trade association we want to do what we can to help support the goals of our future industry stars. This is why each year we offer two annual scholarships of $1000 to all PIJAC Canada members, their staff and immediate family.

We are receiving applications from current or soon-to-be post-secondary students wanting to enter the pet field. This includes, health care, business, services, sciences, education and other areas of interest.

We are looking for candidates who are...

How it works:

The scholarship competition has two parts:

Part 1 of the application form can be accessed through the member portal or by contacting programs@pijaccanada.com

Part 2 of the application form needs to be sent in by the April 30th deadline (Part 2 of the application will be sent upon approval of Part 1).

Here are a few of our past recipients:

Offering the opportunity to your staff or family members is a great way to show your support for their ambitions and fuel their pet passion. Get your application today for an opportunity to receive a $1000 PIJAC Canada scholarship just in time for the 2017-2018 school year.

US Health Alert: Seoul Virus Outbreak

February 10, 2017, Ottawa, ON: Our colleagues at PIJAC (USA) have put out a health alert concerning an outbreak of Seoul Virus linked to a rat breeding facility in Wisconsin.  We will continue to track the story and share information news becomes available. Be sure to connect with your suppliers as well to stay updated. 

Please refer to the Health Alert below.


For more information:
Susan Dankert, Communications Manager, PIJAC Canada
communications@pijaccanada.com (800) 667-7452 x 115

Feb. 9, 2017
PIJAC Health Alert: Seoul Virus Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Illinois Department of Public Health, and Wisconsin Department of Health Services are investigating human illnesses caused by the Seoul virus, a rare disease in the United States. The first illnesses were reported in December 2016 and involved two people operating a home-based rat breeding facility in Wisconsin. The facility had acquired rats from sources in Wisconsin and Illinois. Investigators found six people at two Illinois rat breeding facilities who tested positive for Seoul virus. All individuals have recovered from the virus.

Continuing investigation discovered that 15 states may have received infected rats, but human infections have been confirmed in only 3 of these states. As of February 9, 2017, 11 people have been infected with Seoul virus, with 7 cases in Illinois, 3 cases in Wisconsin and 1 case in Indiana. To date, six facilities in two states have been confirmed to have Seoul virus infection in humans or rats; these have been smaller facilities that sell rats as pets to other breeders and owners, and are not suppliers for large commercial enterprises. Refer to CDC’s web page for continuing updates: https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/outbreaks/seoul-virus/
The virus is carried by Norway (brown) rats and black rats. These rodents are carriers of the disease but have no symptoms. The virus is transmitted in the saliva, urine and feces of infected rats. CDC recommends blood testing for anyone who has become ill

• after handling rats from a rat facility with confirmed Seoul virus infection
• after handling rats from a facility that sold rats to a facility with Seoul virus

The CDC is offering testing for people exposed to the virus, in coordination with local and state health departments.

Seoul virus symptoms
Although not all cases are severe, infection can lead to hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Symptoms usually develop within 1 to 2 weeks after exposure to infectious material, but in rare cases, they may take up to 8 weeks to develop. Initial symptoms begin suddenly and include intense headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever, chills, nausea, and blurred vision. Individuals may have flushing of the face, inflammation or redness of the eyes, or a rash. Later symptoms can include low blood pressure, acute shock, vascular leakage, and acute kidney failure, which can cause severe fluid overload.
For more information: https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/hfrs/index.html

Preventing Infection

• Cover your hands with gloves if there is a possibility of contact with rat saliva, urine and feces (including bedding or nesting material), particularly if you have skin wounds or abrasion.
• Avoid close facial contact such as kissing or nuzzling.
• Disinfect rat habitats regularly. Wear latex, rubber or vinyl gloves and use a 10% bleach solution to clean contaminated areas.
• Follow recommendations in PIJAC’s Feeder Rodent Best Management Practices to keep wild rodents out of breeding facilities.

For more information: https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/outbreaks/seoul-virus/cleaning-up-pet-rodents.html

Testing rats for Seoul virus

CDC has been using its own test which has proven accurate over many years. Preliminary tests suggest that the IDEXX serologic (antibody) and molecular (PCR) tests for Seoul virus in rats yield results very similar to those for CDC’s tests and is a reliable method to screen for the virus; the fecal and urine tests have not been evaluated.

Serologic and molecular testing of newly arriving rats can be effective tools to prevent introduction of infected rats into non-infected colonies. Owners and breeders may wish to seek proof, i.e., a validated Seoul virus test, of a rodent’s infection status before bringing new animals into existing colonies.  

More information

PIJAC hosted a conference call with CDC experts January 31, 2017. A summary of the information presented, along with answers to questions from rodent breeders is available here:

Link to call summary: http://www.pijac.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/PIJACSeoulvirusconferencecallnotesv2.pdf

Illinois Department of Public Health: http://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/seoul-virus

Wisconsin Department of Health Services: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/hantavirus.htm

Alerte - Épidémie du virus de Séoul aux É-U

Le 10 février 2017, Ottawa, ON: Nos collègues à PIJAC (USA) ont émis une alerte santé concernant l’épidémie du virus de Séoul liée à un établissement d’élevage de rats au Wisconsin. Nous allons continuer de suivre cette situation et vous donner des mises à jour au fur et à mesure que les informations seront disponibles.  Assurez-vous de vérifier auprès de vos fournisseurs et de demeurer au courant des développements.  

Veuillez vous référer à l’alerte santé ci-dessous. 

Pour plus d'information:
Louis McCann, Président & Directeur général PIJAC Canada
executiveoffice@pijaccanada.com (800) 667-7452

9 février 2017

Alerte sanitaire du PIJAC (Conseil consultatif mixte de l’industrie des animaux de compagnie) : épidémie du virus de Séoul

Les Centres pour le contrôle et la prévention des maladies (CDC), le ministère de la Santé publique de l’Illinois et les Services de santé de l’État du Wisconsin étudient actuellement des cas de maladies humaines, rares aux États-Unis, qui sont causées par le virus de Séoul. Le virus a été signalé pour la première fois en décembre 2016 et impliquait deux personnes qui exploitent, au Wisconsin, un élevage de rats dans leur domicile. L’établissement avait acheté des rats au Wisconsin et en Illinois. Les chercheurs ont trouvé six personnes, de deux établissements d’élevage de rats en Illinois, ayant testés positifs au virus de Séoul. Toutes les personnes se sont rétablies.

Une enquête continue a révélé que 15 États pourraient avoir reçu des rats infectés, mais les infections humaines ont été confirmées dans seulement 3 de ces États. En date du 9 février 2017, 11 personnes ont été infectées par le virus de Séoul, avec 7 cas en Illinois, 3 cas dans le Wisconsin et 1 cas dans l’Indiana. À ce jour, l’infection au virus de Séoul, chez des êtres humains ou chez des rats, a été confirmée dans six établissements de deux États différents ; il s’agit de plus petits établissements qui vendent des rats en tant qu’animaux de compagnie à d’autres éleveurs ou propriétaires, et ils ne sont pas des fournisseurs pour de grandes entreprises. Référez-vous à la page Web des CDC pour des mises à jour régulières : https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/outbreaks/seoul-virus/

Le virus est transmis par les rats Norvégiens (bruns) et les rats noirs. Ces rongeurs sont porteurs de la maladie, mais ils ne présentent pas de symptômes. Le virus est transmis par la salive, l’urine et les selles des rats infectés. Le CDC recommande d’effectuer des analyses sanguines pour toute personne qui tombe malade :

• après avoir manipulé les rats d’un établissement où l’infection au virus de Séoul a été confirmée ; • après avoir manipulé les rats d’un établissement qui vend des rats à un établissement infecté par le virus de Séoul. Les CDC offrent des tests aux personnes exposées au virus, en coordination avec les services de santé locaux et étatiques.

Les symptômes du virus de Séoul
Bien que tous les cas ne soient pas sévères, l’infection peut causer une fièvre hémorragique avec syndrome rénal (FHSR). Les symptômes se développent habituellement entre une et 2 semaines après l’exposition au matériel infectieux, mais dans de rares cas, ils peuvent prendre jusqu’à 8 semaines à se développer. Les premiers symptômes commencent soudainement et comprennent les maux de tête intenses, des douleurs abdominales et du dos, de la fièvre, des frissons, de la nausée et une vision floue. Les personnes peuvent présenter un rougissement du visage, de l’inflammation ou de la rougeur aux yeux, ou une éruption cutanée. Les symptômes plus tardifs peuvent inclure une pression artérielle basse, un choc aigu, une fuite vasculaire et une insuffisance rénale aiguë, ce qui peut causer une hyperhydratation sévère.

Pour davantage de renseignements : https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/hfrs/index.html

Prévention des infections
• Portez des gants s’il y a une possibilité de contact avec la salive, l’urine et les matières fécales (incluant les matériaux pour la litière ou les nids), en particulier si vous avez des blessures cutanées ou des éraflures. 
• Évitez les contacts rapprochés avec le visage, notamment les baisers ou les caresses du museau. 
• Désinfectez régulièrement les habitats des rats. Portez des gants de latex, de caoutchouc ou de vinyle et utilisez une solution d’eau de javel à 10 % pour nettoyer les zones contaminées. Pour davantage de renseignements : https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/outbreaks/seoul-virus/cleaning-up-pet-rodents.html

PETCUREAN PROMOTES CHAPMAN LITTLEJOHN TO DIRECTOR OF SALES

PETCUREAN PROMOTES CHAPMAN LITTLEJOHN TO DIRECTOR OF SALES

Chilliwack, BC, January 30, 2017 - Petcurean, a leading manufacturer of high quality, premium pet food today announced that Chapman Littlejohn has been appointed to Director of Sales. An industry veteran, Littlejohn has been with the company for over 10 years, formerly serving as National Sales Manager.

Petcurean is now sold in more than 20 countries and has experienced double digit growth as the brand’s appeal and distribution expands. To build on this momentum, Littlejohn will oversee the sales division for Petcurean, enhancing the company’s global sales strategies with the depth of his industry and company knowledge. Former Director of Sales, Murray Smith, has joined Petcurean’s parent company 2Story Group Inc. in the role of Vice President of Sales where his expertise will be applied to numerous projects.

“Petcurean was built on the foundation set by two good friends who were driven by the idea that pets deserved better. In our more than 16 years in the business, our company has seen extreme growth and Chapman has contributed significantly to that growth,” said Smith. “Petcurean believes in supporting the development of our team members and, I couldn’t be happier for Chapman as he steps into his new role.”

“I look forward to my new role at Petcurean where I am committed to exploring new areas of growth and success for the company,” said Littlejohn. “Petcurean is a phenomenal company, whose ethics and values are integrated into every aspect of the business, making my tenure with the company extremely rewarding.”

Littlejohn will be overseeing the sales of the expanded Petcurean product line, which in addition to its tail-wagging favorites such as GO! NOW FRESH and SPIKE, includes the brand’s latest addition GATHER, a new pet food line crafted from certified, organic, non-GMO and sustainably produced ingredients.

About Petcurean
Petcurean is a family-owned Canadian company that creates premium-quality pet food recipes; GO!, NOW FRESH, GATHER and SPIKE TREATS for dogs and cats (and cats and dogs). GO! provides solutions for your pet’s unique dietary needs; NOW FRESH is the only dry pet food to use 100% fresh meat and fresh omega oils; GATHER is crafted from certified and organic ingredients, sustainably produced; and SPIKE lets you reward your dog with treats made using all natural ingredients. Petcurean pet foods are sold exclusively through pet specialty retailers in Canada, the United States, and more than 20 countries internationally. At Petcurean, with every decision they make and every recipe they create, they put pets first. Please visit www.petcurean.com to learn more.

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