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NATIONAL PET WEEK PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, National Pet Week was jointly founded in 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the AVMA Auxiliary to foster responsible pet ownership, recognize the human-animal bond, and increase public awareness of veterinary medicine; and WHEREAS, The 2010 theme for National Pet Week is “Pets and People—Healthy Together,” promoting the importance of exercise for people and pets; and WHEREAS, 65% of adult Americans are overweight or obese, according to the American Obesity Society; and WHEREAS, 44% of dogs and 57% of cats in the United States are overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention; and WHEREAS, As with humans, obesity among companion animals can lead to osteoarthritis, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and various cancers; and WHEREAS, Moscow’s neighbor, Washington State University is home to a world class veterinary teaching hospital, one of only 29 such facilities in North America; and WHEREAS, the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine is integral to the new Center for Global Animal Health, and home to the famed People-Pet Partnership Program, which oversees the Pet Education Partnership, Companion Animal Partnership, and Palouse Area Therapeutic Horsemanship Programs; and WHEREAS, the City of Moscow recognizes the physical, social, and emotional health benefits that companion animals and their owners provide each other every day; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Nancy Chaney, Mayor of the City of Moscow, do hereby proclaim May 2–8, 2010, NATIONAL PET WEEK in the City of Moscow, and I call upon community members to consider that tender interaction with other creatures enhances physical, emotional, and social well-being, and generally makes people better people. DATED this 3rd day of May, 2010 Nancy Chaney, Mayor