National Veterinarian Day / World Penguin Day

National Veterinarian Day

April 25

The term veterinarian comes from the Latin word veterinae which means ‘working animals.’ Dogs are the most popular animal to show up on their veterinary exam table, as 46.3 million households in the United States own a dog! There are only 30 colleges of veterinary medicine (CVMs) in the U.S., as compared to 179 medical schools, 65 dental schools and 237 law schools! Of the 71,393 veterinarians currently working in private practice, 41.6% are male and 58.4% are female. About 3,000 students graduate each year from U.S. CVMs. The next time you see your veterinarian, tell them how much you appreciate them.

World Penguin Day

April 25

Today’s celebratory day coincides with the annual northern migration of Adelie penguins. Native to Antarctica are six breeding species, Emperor, King, Chinstrap, Adelie, Gentoo and Macaroni penguins. Most penguins are monogamous and have distinct calls, enabling them to locate their mates in large groups. Penguin species lay up to two eggs per mating season with the Emperor and King penguins laying only one egg. Emperor Penguins are the tallest species, standing nearly 4 feet tall. The smallest is the Little Blue Penguin, which is only about 16 inches. The fastest species is the Gentoo Penguin, which can reach swimming speeds up to 22 mph. Fossils place the earliest penguin relative at some 60 million years ago, meaning an ancestor of the birds we see today survived the mass extinction of the dinosaurs.

Today’s Birthdays of Note….

Renée Zellweger – Actress – 54 – born in Katy, Texas

Al Pacino – Actor – 79  – born in New York City, New York

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