LANA Announces Hand in Hand Winners
from the Llama Association of North America
1800 S. Obenchain Road, Eagle Point, OR 97524

A Wisconsin veterinarian and two from California are the latest recipients of camelid reference packages from the Llama Association of North America (LANA) through the organization’s innovative Hand in Hand Program.

This year’s winners include Dr. Edward Metcalf, Hayward, WI, nominated by Chris and John Elbert, Springbrook, WI; Dr. Thomas Nickerson, Weaverville, CA, nominated by Laurel Edwards, Lewiston, CA; and Dr. Patty deWet, San Bernardino, CA, nominated by both Carol Edwards, Redlands, CA, and Christina Dunlap, Fullerton, CA.

The goal of the Hand in Hand Program is to provide at least two practicing veterinarians a year with camelid reference packages that include a variety of materials from which to select so that recipients can tailor packages to suit the varying needs of their practices. Veterinarians are nominated by LANA members, and those not chosen this year remain a part of the pool from which next year’s selections are made.

LANA launched the Hand in Hand Program to help practicing veterinarians become more familiar with llamas and alpacas and their needs by providing them with camelid reference materials. This year’s recipients will be able to select a copy of Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids by Murray E. Fowler, DVM, or Camelid Health Conference for Owners and Breeders, a set of the proceedings from both the 2003 and 2004 sessions held at Ohio State University. They will also be able to select a copy of one of the following titles: Veterinary Llama & Alpaca Field Manual by C. Norman Evans, DVM; Forage and Feed Management for Llamas, Forage and Feed Management for Alpacas by Daniel Linden; or Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care by Bradford B. Smith, DVM; Karen I. Timm, DVM; and Patrick O. Long, DVM.

In addition, one of last year’s Hand in Hand Program recipients, Kulshan Veterinary Hospital, Lynden, Washington, joined with LANA in presenting a copy of Dr. Fowler’s book to a deserving vet student at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University. Stacey R. Byers, who wrote a paper titled “Congenital Heart Disease in an Alpaca Cria: A Case Report”, received the LANA award at the college’s annual scholarship and awards program.

As a LANA member you can be a vital part of the Hand in Hand Program by nominating a deserving veterinarian in your own area. To find out more about this and other LANA programs, contact LANA’s business office at 541-830-5262 or llamainfo@aol.com. You can also access more information about the program on LANA’s web site at www.llamainfo.org.

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