WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A Purdue University veterinarian wants people to become more aware of how poor dental care can affect other aspects of their pet’s health, especially since studies show that proper dental care can extend a pet’s life by as much as five years.

In February, several veterinary groups, including the American Veterinary Medicine Association and the American Veterinary Dental Society, observe Pets Dental Health Month.

“It’s important for all pet owners to know that pets can lead longer and healthier lives with good dental care,” says Lorraine Corriveau, wellness veterinarian in the School of Veterinary Medicine.

A recent nationwide veterinary study shows that there appears to be a strong association between the health of the pet’s mouth and the incidence of other health issues, such as heart murmurs or even infection of the lining of the heart.

“Dental care of dogs and cats is one of the most commonly overlooked areas of pet health care,” Corriveau says. “Approximately 80 percent of all dogs and cats have periodontal disease by the time they are only two years old. A recent American Animal Hospital Association report on compliance within veterinary practices showed that less than 35 percent of pets that need a dental cleaning ever receive one.” Read the full story

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Lafayette-West Lafayette Development Corporation Downtown Development Council is canceling the Lafayette Farmers’ Market Vendor Call-Out Meeting originally scheduled for today (Thursday, January 31st) due to the winter storm warning. The meeting had been scheduled for 5:30 pm in the Swezey Commerce Building and has been re-scheduled to Thursday, February 7 at 5:30 in the Swezey Commerce Building, 337 Columbia Street, Downtown Lafayette.

For more information, or to obtain a contract, please visit the website at lafayettefarmersmarket.com or call Jane Ness at the LWLDC, 765-742-4044.

Purdue’s Keaton Grant, left, shoots over Iowa’s Seth Gorney in the first half (AP Photo)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Keaton Grant made the winning free throw with 1.4 seconds left and Purdue held off Iowa 51-50 on Wednesday night.

Purdue got the ball with five seconds left and the score tied at 50. Grant took the inbounds pass and drove the length of the floor before he was fouled by Iowa’s Tony Freeman. Grant made the first free throw, then intentionally missed the second because Iowa was out of timeouts. Purdue secured the rebound and ran out the clock.

E’Twaun Moore led Purdue with 12 points and Scott Martin added 11 for the Boilermakers (16-5, 7-1 Big Ten). Purdue, which has won six straight, is off to its best start since the 1997-98 season.

Justin Johnson led Iowa with 14 points, and Freeman added 13 for the Hawkeyes (10-12, 3-6).

Purdue shot just 41 percent, but made up for it by forcing 22 turnovers.

Iowa could have evened the season series with a win. The Hawkeyes got the ball trailing 50-47 in the final seconds. Iowa’s Jake Kelly drove to the hoop for a layup, and Purdue’s Robbie Hummel was called for basket interference, making the basket good. Martin fouled Kelly on the play, and Kelly made the free throw to tie the game at 50 with five seconds left.

Iowa led 29-27 early in the second half before Martin made a 3-pointer to give Purdue the lead. Moore made a 3-pointer, then Moore’s steal led to a dunk by Chris Kramer that pushed Purdue’s lead to 35-29.

Minutes later, Martin made another 3-pointer to give the Boilermakers a 38-31 lead.

Johnson made two 3-pointers to help the Hawkeyes cut Purdue’s lead to 42-39. The Hawkeyes trimmed Purdue’s advantage to 44-43 on a dunk by Kurt Looby, and the game was close the rest of the way.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue Student Union Board will stage a mock Indian wedding at 7 p.m. Friday (Feb. 1) in the Purdue Memorial Union South Ballroom.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will offer visitors a chance to observe and participate in a traditional wedding ceremony similar to what is held in India.

“This is a great opportunity to spend a memorable evening while learning about a different and distant culture through its wedding rituals and traditions,” said Ronak Chokshi, director of cultural events for the Purdue Student Union Board.

The ceremony will begin with a “groom”-led procession from the Great Hall of the union to the South Ballroom, where the “bride’s” family will meet the group. Everyone attending the event will be assigned the role of a distant relative or friend of the family when they arrive.

Wedding guests also will be able to put on turbans, saris and henna tattoos, and take photos at the event. A free, traditional Indian meal will be served.

Throughout the event, there will be traditional Indian classical music and Bollywood numbers. The Purdue Indian Dance Club will present a traditional wedding dance, and Purdue Di Shaan, a Bhangra dance team, also will perform. Following the performances and the ceremony, the dance floor will be open for guests to dance to music provided by a deejay.

This event is the third of the Mock Wedding Series events sponsored by the Purdue Student Board. Previous ceremonies included a mock Jewish wedding and a mock Greek wedding.

Limited seating is available, so guests are encouraged to arrive early, Chokshi said.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue Cancer Center is inviting the community to participate in a running/walking event on April 12 to raise awareness and funding for the battle against cancer.

The Purdue Cancer Center Challenge 5K run/walk, a 3.1-mile race, is open to the public and will begin at 8:30 a.m. It will start and finish at Ross-Ade Stadium. The registration fee is $18 for students and $20 for non-students. More information is available online at www.cancer.purdue.edu.

Greater Lafayette community members Paulette Moody and Beth Saiki-Olsen are co-chairing the event. Proceeds will benefit the Purdue Cancer Center, one of just seven National Cancer Institute-designated basic research facilities in the United States. The center, which was established in 1976, attempts to help cancer patients by identifying new molecular targets and designing future agents and drugs for effectively detecting and treating cancer.

Purdue employees can earn a purple apple for their Healthy Purdue 2008 program by participating in the race and maintaining a training log. More information and the required form are available online at www.purdue.edu/healthypurdue.