HSVMA Applauds Senate for Passing the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act
Advocacy
Thursday, January 09, 2014 04:03 PM

Veterinarians historically, and even more so today, have provided a broad range of life-saving services in setting outside of the clinic. Whether they be “house calls” to farms or animal sanctuaries and wildlife rehabilitation centers in rural areas, mobile spay/neuter and vaccination clinics, disaster response, or animal cruelty investigations, they all require travel- often to remote and underserved communities.

Additionally, mobile veterinarians provide important in-home veterinary services such as hospice care and euthanasia for animal companions. Wildlife and public health veterinarians need to use controlled substances in order to remove or relocate wild animals such as mountain lions, to rescue trapped, injured or endangered wildlife, or in research or disease control and abatement settings.

The Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act will clarify the law and ensure the ability of veterinarians working in the field in the field to provide the most effective medications for pain management, anesthesia and sedation. Besides the HSVMA, this common sense legislation is supported by the American Veterinary Medical Association and more than 130 veterinary medical, animal protection groups and interested parties. The HSVMA commends the Congressional leaders shepherding this effort and the full Senate for supporting it and urges Congress to quickly pass this key bill safeguarding mobile veterinary service providers and the health and safety of the animals and the people of the United States.

HSVMA members can help by contacting their Representative today to urge support for H.R. 1528. Submitting a support letter via email or mail is best. View the HSVMA's support letter for suggested language»