A new veterinary service to treat behavior problems of animals in the San Diego area was launched this week by the University of California Veterinary Medical Center-San Diego. The behavior service, based at the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, is available for dogs, cats, horses and birds. Plans also are underway to begin seeing small-animal patients this fall at the North County Specialty Animal Hospital in San Marcos, the Pet Emergency and Specialty Center in La Mesa, the VCA Emergency Animal Hospital and Referral Center in San Diego, and the Veterinary Surgical Specialists of San Diego. Pet owners may make appointments now for their animals by calling the UC Veterinary Medical Center-SD at (619) 759-6837 and in the fall may also contact one of the four participating veterinary hospitals listed above. Directing the new service is veterinarian Dr. Patrick Melese, who has 13 years experience in solving animal behavior problems. He is a 1986 graduate of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "I am thrilled to join forces with the University of California to improve clinical animal behavior services and education in San Diego and the Southern California area," Melese said. "My vision for this new center is to help people and their pets build and maintain strong bonds of friendship and affection for each other, and to stop pets from losing their homes due to problematic behaviors." UC Veterinary Medical Center-SD is a joint venture established in 1998 between the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and UC San Diego to better serve Southern California. Instrumental in helping to create the center was the San Diego County Veterinary Medical Association and its president, Dr. Sara Ford.