Owner vs. GuardianMarch/April

2005

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In this issue...

Owner vs. Guardian ..................... 1

News Briefs .................................. 2

Scope of Veterinary Practice .......... 4

Oregon Veterinary Conference ...... 6

Classifieds .................................... 10

Legislative Status Report ............... 15

President McInnis’s Address .......... 16

A campaign to legally change the term pet “owner”to pet “guardian” in municipal codes and possiblystatutory guidelines in states was launched in 1999 byIn Defense of Animals (IDA), a nationwide animalrights group based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Theplatform for the campaign, according to the IDA Website, is “to reflect growing public support for a redefinedpublic standard relating to animals.”

Since the implementation of the GuardianCampaign, a number of U.S. cities (approximately 20),plus the State of Rhode Island and a Canadian provincehave adopted the change in terminology.

The issue of owner vs. guardian has been mostprominently raised in California. In response to IDA’scampaign, the California Veterinary MedicalAssociation has conveyed its concerns before variouscity councils when the topic has been placed on theagenda for discussion. The New Jersey VeterinaryMedical Association has also tracked the issue in thatstate, as the topic has been introduced in several locales.

To our knowledge, the issue of owner vs. guardianhas surfaced twice in Oregon. The first occurrence wasabout two to three years ago, when the City of Eugenebriefly considered and declined a change interminology. (We learned of this second hand and afterthe discussion). The issue more recently came to ourattention about a year-and-a-half ago, when LaneCounty commissioners were studying a litany ofchanges relative to animals (i.e., general animal controland shelter considerations, a pet food tax, dog licensing,and a requirement for veterinarians to provide thecounty with a list of clients whose animals wereinoculated with a rabies vaccine). The term guardianwas inserted in a couple of sections of a task force study,but a terminology change was not included in finaldocuments.

More recently, and on behalf of the OVMA, Sen.Kurt Schrader, the Association’s recent past president,asked legislative counsel at the State Capitol to weighin on the issue. This report indicated that the term“guardian” appears in 423 statutes, but that the wordusually appears as “guardian of the person” or “guardianof the minor” or a variation on that theme. According

to legislative counsel, it would be extremely difficult, ifnot impossible, for a court of law to interpret current“guardian” laws in Oregon to apply to animals.

The OVMA Board of Directors are concerned thatif a statutory change on “owner” vs. “guardian” were tooccur, it could very possibly have adverse consequencesfor the veterinary profession and animals in Oregon.With this in mind, the board appointed an ad hoccommittee to study the issue and report back to theboard, with a possible position statement. Thecommittee did draft a position statement that theOVMA board approved on February 13 (see below).Committee members included: Drs. Dave Barno, MattDahlquist, Julie Grossen, Sheri Morris and JacquiNeilson. Glenn Kolb, executive director with theOVMA, and Marcia Keith, the Association’s legislativeadvocate, provided staff support.

Position StatementThe Oregon Veterinary Medical Association

supports maintaining the current terminology of“ownership” as it pertains to the relationship of humansto animals in the state of Oregon.

BackgroundWhile the OVMA appreciates the term “guardian”

may reflect current emotional and social trends of thehuman relationship with animals in our society, thelegal ramifications of making such a change interminology from “owner” to “guardian” have farreaching consequences that may not always be in thebest interest of animals or society. Furthermore, there isnothing to suggest that changing the definition from“owner” to “guardian” would lead to better treatmentof animals. People who mistreat animals are going to doso regardless of their legal status: a “bad owner” wouldundoubtedly be a “bad guardian.”

Some unintended consequences of changing thestatus of ownership of animals to guardianship ofanimals may include the following:

❒ An owner, by law, bears full legal responsibilityfor his or her animal. In the legal sense, an animal is

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News Briefs

2

Congressional FellowDr. Kent Ames is an AVMA Congressional Science

Fellow for Senator Gordon Smith. A food animalclinician with the veterinary program at Michigan StateUniversity, Dr. Ames started working with Sen. Smithin November 2004, with the fellowship scheduled toconclude in August of this year.

Some of the issues he has worked on include cattleimportation from Canada, beef exportation to Japan,the wild horse population, wolves, and highereducation.

Media CoverageIn recent weeks the OVMA office arranged for Dr.

Rob Shimek, Salem, to speak with a television reporterat KATU-TV in Portland on vicious dog legislationwhile the reporter was in town at the Capitol.

A writer for Dog Nose News in the Rose Citycontacted the Association about an article on dew clawremoval, and on short -- deadline -- notice Dr. BobFranklin, Portland, discussed the issue.

In two separate articles on legislation to prohibitthe force-feeding of birds in Oregon, Glenn Kolbpresented the OVMA board’s support of the bill toThe Oregonian and Portland Monthly magazine.

Kolb also spoke to DVM Newsmagazine aboutlegislation that enables the Veterinary MedicalExamining Board to request a mental and/or healthevaluation of a veterinary licensee, if the VMEB believesit is necessary to protect the public’s interest.

Pet WellnessThe American Veterinary Medical Asscociation and

Fort Dodge Animal Health are again teaming up for apet wellness campaign. The focus of the campaign ishow six-month wellness exams can keep “your bestfriend healthy.”

Each participating veterinary clinic receives a widevariety of materials -- posters, brochures, a slide wheelaging chart -- to support veterinarians and staffs ineducating clients.

More than 10,000 veterinary practices have alreadyparticipated in the program. To register for your freeIn-Clinic Education Kit, visit the campaign Web siteat www.npwm.com or send an e-mail to the following:info@nationalpetwellnessmonth.com. You can alsocontact your Fort Dodge representative.

Client Education PosterThank you to Dr. Doug McInnis, new president

of the OVMA, and owner of West Ridge Animal Clinicin Klamath Falls, for reviewing this month’s client

education poster on the importance of spaying andneutering your pet. The poster also contains a reminderto consider adopting pets, especially older dogs andcats, from humane shelters.

The Oregon Humane Society is distributing thisposter to all humane shelters in the state, with therequest that it be posted in the shelter or given toveterinarians to posted in their practices.

OVMA members (and their staff members) canaccess PDFs of all of the Association’s client educationposters in the Resources section of the Web site atwww.oregonvma.org. Contact the OVMA office at(800) 235-3502 to set up your password to access thisand other members-only content on the site.

In MemoriamWe regretably want to inform you of the passing of

two veterinarians in recent months: Dr. Walt Wellerand Dr. Michael Glatt.

Dr. Weller died unexpectedly the first week ofMarch, according to his son, who contacted theAssociation. A 1942 veterinary graduate of ColoradoState, he was a Life Member of the OVMA andpresident of the statewide organization in 1948. Dr.Weller was a mixed animal practitioner in Ashland foryears, before he retired to Corvallis in the late 1960s,only to establish a small animal practice and then retirea second time in the 1970s.

Dr. Glatt passed away while undergoing surgery ata Portland-area hospital. He was the owner of CapitolHill Veterinary Hospital, and a 1970 graduate of theveterinary program at the University of Pennsylvania.

West Nile VirusDr. Don Hansen, State Veterinarian with the

Department of Agriculture, and Dr. Emilio DeBess,the Public Health Veterinarian, have been quite busythis year talking with various media about preparingfor West Nile Virus.

They have also teamed together to develop asurveillance program for the virus in equines. Pleasecheck inserts in this issue of the newsletter for freetesting of clinical cases for WNV. The information alsocontains guidelines and a sample submission form forinvestigating suspect cases of the virus in horses.

Benefits of Pet OwnershipDescribing himself as a “pet geek,” Dr. Dan Fiske

of Cave Junction in Southern Oregon spoke to theDeer Creek Chapter of Family Community Educationat a local church.

His talk focused on the myriad of human healthbenefits associated with pet ownership.

To serve veterinarians, the

veterinary profession and

the public through public

relations, continuing

education and political

action, and by promoting

among veterinarians

the highest standard of

animal care and

professional standards.

Oregon Veterinary

Medical Association

1880 Lancaster Dr. NE

Suite 118

Salem, OR 97305

(800) 235-3502

(503) 399-0311

Fax (503) 363-4218

www.oregonvma.org

contact@oregonvma.org

Executive Director

Glenn M. Kolb

glenn.kolb@oregonvma.org

Executive Assistant

Jenny Page

jenny.page@oregonvma.org

Public Relations Director

Raina Dey

raina.dey@oregonvma.org

Board ofDirectors

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3

(Owner vs. Guardian, continued from page 1)

considered personal property, owned and protectedby the individual. Such ownership protects a pet frombeing taken away without due cause, but also placesresponsibility on the owner to care for his or her animalin a safe and humane manner. An owner is legallyresponsible for his or her animal’s welfare, protectionand actions during its lifetime. A guardian, on the otherhand, would have limited or temporary possession ofthe ward (animal). This may result in the followingscenarios.

◆ The guardian not being able to make medicaldecisions regarding that animal

◆ Third party intervention on how the animalis treated/managed, directed at the guardian andveterinarian.

◆ It may become illegal to buy or sell animals,thus decimating the breeding industry for any animals.

❒ Public safety could be jeopardized sinceguardians do not have the same legal responsibilitiesregarding managing the actions of aggressive ordangerous animals.

❒ There could be significant impact on thelivestock industry.

◆ Inability to sell/trade animals for breeding orslaughter

◆ Raising animals as an agricultural commoditymay be jeopardized

◆ Third party intervention on how the animalis treated/managed may cause lawsuits or liabilities thatcould impact the economics of the industry

❒ Governmental agencies could possibly facesignificant costs.

◆ Replacement of all paperwork and postedsigns to reflect the change in terminology

◆ Establishment of a system to protect thesewards (animals) if a guardian were to fail in his or herduties

◆ Establishment of a system to overseeguardians

◆ Court time and costs associated with a thirdparty lawsuit over the removal of guardianship, whereperceived care does not meet the third party’s standards

◆ A change in the status would cause difficultyand lawsuits when local government tries to enforce itsanimal control and public health regulations, since allcity, county and state laws are predicated on the factthat animals are property, albeit a special class ofproperty

Oregon already has some of the strongest animalprotection laws in the United States that provide forthe welfare and safety of animals in the state. Insteadof changing terminology that in some ways may bedetrimental to our state’s animals, the OVMA supportscontinued enforcement of current animal welfare laws.

PresidentDr. Doug McInnis

Klamath Falls

President ElectDr. Linda Blythe

Corvallis

Vice PresidentOpen

Immediate Past PresidentDr. Tom Keck

Dallas

TreasurerDr. Jay Fineman

Newport

AVMA DelegateDr. DuWayne Penfold

Eugene

AVMA Alternate DelegateDr. Marty DeWees

Springfield

District 1Dr. Bob Hall

Pendleton

District 2Dr. Bill Young

Eugene

District 3Dr. Laird Goodman

Beaverton

District 4Dr. Jacqui Neilson

Portland

District 5Dr. Michael Foland

Salem

District 6Dr. Brad Frank

Jacksonville

District 7Dr. Susan Loomis

Bend

District 8Dr. Jean Hall

Corvallis

AVMA Distric XI RepDr. Richard Coon

Forest Grove

Industry / Ex-officio Linda Melton

IDEXX Laboratories

Practice Managers / Ex-officioMichelle Campoli

Eugene

Technicians / Ex-officioOpen

OVMAMeetings

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OtherMeetings

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4

Scope of Veterinary PracticeThe following is a White Paper developed by the

Coalition on the Scope of Veterinary Practice. A list ofparticipating organizations is noted at the end of thispaper, with CEOs of each group a member of theAmerican Society of Veterinary Medical AssociationExecutives.

In principal, the OVMA Board of Directorssupports the White Paper.

BackgroundThe veterinary medical profession is charged with

delivering optimal animal healthcare, advocating foranimal welfare, and protecting public health.Legislators and regulators are facing increasing pressurefrom non-veterinarians who seek legal authority toperform animal medical procedures that currentlyconstitute the practice of veterinary medicine. Treatinganimals without veterinary involvement ormanagement could harm animal patients and endangerpublic health. This coalition’s intention is to provideguiding principles to state veterinary medicalassociations that will assist them as they work withlicensing boards and legislators on these issues.

Veterinary education usually includes anundergraduate degree, which is always followed by afour-year professional veterinary medical educationprogram that affords a veterinarian expertise in multiplespecies. By virtue of their education, veterinarians –like other senior healthcare professionals – receive anunrestricted license that is complete in every respect.This professional license provides the means by whichthe public holds the veterinarian accountable.

Underlying principlesCoalition participants sought to articulate an

optimal system for animal healthcare delivery, whilerecognizing that statutes and regulations will vary inindividual states. An optimal system would protectconsumer interests, address public health concerns, andadvance the welfare of animals. This system rests on anumber of underlying and inviolate principles:

● Veterinarians protect animal health, animalwelfare and public health.

● The practice of veterinary medicine includes,but is not limited to, diagnosis, treatment, prescribing,surgery, and disease prevention.

● A license to practice veterinary medicineimplies that:

o Veterinarians are unrestricted in their choiceof therapeutic options as long as the animal ownerprovides informed consent

o Veterinarians know their individual skilllevels and limitations

o Veterinarians who practice beyond theirindividual skill levels or limitations will be heldaccountable for their actions by a licensing orregulatory board

● Statutes have designated the veterinarianas the sole primary care provider in the animalhealthcare system.

● According to the American Board ofVeterinary Specialties (and many state practice acts),non-veterinarians must not use any title, words,abbreviations or letters that induce the belief that theperson using them is a veterinarian. Such use is primafacie evidence of the intention to represent oneself asengaging in the practice of veterinary medicine.

● There may be a role for non-veterinarians inthe treatment of animals; however, there are risksassociated with the involvement of non-veterinarians.

● Statutes require veterinary medical proceduresto take place in the context of an established veterinary/client/patient relationship.

Implications for public policyThe highest level of animal healthcare is that

delivered by the veterinarian. The veterinarian possessesunique qualifications – i.e., comprehensive education,experience, and licensure – to diagnose and treat animalhealth problems and to recognize and report publichealth risks.

Furthermore, numerous federal and stategovernment agencies, as well as corporations andbusinesses involved in the production and distributionof animal health pharmaceuticals and other animalhealth materials, have long-established channels forcommunicating with veterinarians about animal healthand safety issues and notifying veterinarians of potentialpublic health and food safety problems. Non-veterinarians are neither in a position to receive norqualified to appropriately act upon such notifications– thus threatening animal health, public health andfood safety. For example, in 1997 the Food and DrugAdministration issued an alert to remind veterinariansthat colloidal silver was not approved for use in thetreatment of mastitis in dairy cows. Colloidal silver issold over-the-counter. Use of it could lead to residuesin meat, milk or eggs, which could jeopardize the healthof humans.

Risks increase as the involvement of theveterinarian decreases. These risks include:

● Absence of proper diagnosis

May 21-22, 2005Lane County VMACompliance & H-A BondKaryn Gavzer, Dr. Marty BeckerEugene, OR(541) 343-8531

June 5, 2005Practice Building SeminarMark OppermanEugene, OR(303) 674-8169www.vmc-inc.com

July 16-20, 2005AVMA ConventionMinneapolis, MNwww.avma.org

Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2005Washington State VMAAnnual ConferenceYakima, WA(425) 454-8381

October 5-9, 2005Wild West VeterinaryConferenceReno, Nevada

March 3-5, 2006Oregon Veterinary ConferenceCorvallis, Oregon

For more information, call theOVMA office at (800) 235-3502or visit our Web site at thefollowing: www.oregonvma.org.

5

● Delay in effective treatment of the animalpatient

● Injury or death to the animal patient● Increased transmission of potentially fatal and

debilitating zoonotic diseases from animals to humans(such as rabies, equine encephalitis, West Nile virus,and Lyme disease)

● Threats to food safety by transmission ofdiseases such as salmonella, E. coli, cryptosporidiumand listeriosis, and

● Delays in recognizing foreign animal diseases(such as foot-and-mouth disease or BSE) that pose anincreased risk of bio-terrorism or economic disaster.

In treating the animal patient, the veterinarianmay choose to utilize the services of non-veterinariansas secondary care providers. In this case, statelegislatures and regulatory boards face the difficultchallenge of determining the appropriate level ofsupervision required to minimize risk when non-veterinarians are involved. This decision must includean assessment of factors such as:

● Risk to the animal patient and client● Impact on public health and welfare● Credentials or qualifications of the non-

veterinarian● Animal owner’s recourse through liability

coverage if harm or death to the animal results● Non-veterinarian’s accountability to a

veterinary licensing board with disciplinary authority.

Treatment provided by non-veterinariansA progressively higher level of state regulatory

authority and oversight is required the more a non-veterinarian treating animals is removed fromimmediate supervision by a veterinarian. That is, agreater burden rests with the state for licensure orregistration of non-veterinarians directly involved inthe treatment of animals. To minimize risks, theveterinarian must 1) Provide immediate or directsupervision of a treatment delivered by a non-veterinarian and 2) Manage the delivery of all requiredcare.

Non-veterinarians require supervision by aveterinarian at one of the following levels:

● Immediate supervision, which means thatthe attending veterinarian is in the immediate area,within audible and visual range of the animal patientand the person treating the patient. With this highestlevel of supervision, the veterinarian can best avert harmto the animal and/or the animal owner, intervene if anemergency arises, and respond to injury during care bythe non-veterinarian

● Direct supervision, which indicates that theattending veterinarian is readily available on thepremises where the patient is being treated, or

● Indirect supervision, which means that theattending veterinarian has given either written or oralinstructions for treatment of the patient and is readilyavailable by telephone or other forms of immediatecommunication.

If an animal owner insists that a non-veterinariantreat his or her animal against veterinaryrecommendation, the veterinarian should inform theanimal owner in writing of the applicable requirementsfor veterinary supervision, the risks to the animalpatient, and the non-veterinarian’s lack ofaccountability to regulatory agencies.

Difficult and complex issues surroundingtreatment by non-veterinarians must be consideredwhen writing public policy. Examples of such issuesare listed below.

● Adequate protocol should cover items suchas the timely provision of records by the non-veterinarian to the veterinarian, limited time lapses fromveterinary examination to initial treatment, the numberof treatments allowed, and timely follow-up by theveterinarian.

● Liability insurance is a significant concern interms of consumer protection for harm or injury ordeath to the animal patient. However, in most cases,non-veterinarians are unable to obtain liabilityinsurance to afford appropriate consumer protection.In the cases of non-veterinarians licensed in otherdisciplines, liability insurance does not necessarilyextend to treatment of animal patients.

● The practice acts of other licensed professionsrequire careful assessment to determine whether thosepractice acts either limit the professionals’ practice tohumans, or animals, or are silent on this issue.

● The legitimacy of “certification” claimed byvarious non-veterinarian practitioners generates graveconcern to veterinarians. In contrast to the rigorousand standardized training completed by every licensedveterinarian, non-veterinarians often advertise that theyhold any number of “certifications” or even “boardcertifications.” This leads to confusion among legislatorsand the general public. The term “certification” initself is meaningless, as any person or training programcan “certify” a practitioner without proof of merit.Furthermore, self-appointed certifying associationshave added confusion by developing “boardcertification” pathways in animal

(Continued on page 9)

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6

Excellence All the Way Around at OVCRecord attendance highlighted the 2005

Oregon Veterinary Conference in the firstweekend in March.

All told, 261 veterinarians registered for theOVC portion of the meeting and a combinationof 250 practice managers, technicians, assistantsand front office staff joined in as well.

In addition, the International CamelidHealth Conference was held in conjunction withthe OVC, and 75 veterinarians from around theworld convened in Corvallis for that program.

Another highlight of the meeting was an openhouse of the newly-expanded veterinary facilitiesat Oregon State University.

Each year, as part of the three-day event, theOVMA conducts its Awards of Excellence andAnimal Hall of Fame programs. Once again, thisproved to be an afternoon of wonderfulcelebration and recognition, with outgoingPresident Dr. Tom Keck presiding.

Meritorious ServiceThe Association’s highest honor is presented

to a veterinarian who has contributed mightily toadvancement of the professional at the local, stateand/or national level. This year’s recipient was Dr.Marty DeWees of Springfield.

Dr. DeWees is a 1971 veterinary graduate ofMichigan State University. She has continued toremain active with the Lane County VeterinaryMedical Association, where she has held everyelected office, and she was instrumental in helpingto start that area’s emergency hospital years ago.

In addition, Dr. DeWees has served as amember of the Veterinary Medical ExaminingBoard for eight years.

With regard to her OVMA involvement, Dr.DeWees has served as either chair or co-chair of

the Association’s continuing education committeefor 15 plus years (she presently is a participant onthe planning committee for the Oregon VeterinaryConference).

She also represented the OVMA as one oftwo delegates to the board of directors of theWild West Veterinary Conference. She served inthis capacity for eight years, including back-to-back years as president of the regional conference.Currently, Dr. DeWees is the OVMA’s AlternateDelegate to the AVMA House of Delegates -- aposition she has held for two years.

Veterinary Service AwardDr. Howard Wagner of Grants Pass was

presented with this honor, which recognizes anindividual or organization that has promoted theveterinary profession or the well-being of animals.

Dr. Wagner is a founding member of theOregon Animal Health Foundation, which is theOVMA’s charitable arm. Since its inception in1983, Dr. Wagner has been a champion ofadvocating the valuable and important role ofveterinary-affiliated foundations long before wefully recognized how such an organization couldprovide benefits not only to the profession atlarge but to animals under the care of theprofession’s stewardship.

Under his tireless leadership, the OAHF hascontinued to blossom and promotes the healthand welfare of animals by funding a variety ofcharitable, educational and scientific programsand endeavors. Some of these ventures haveincluded:

❑ Sponsorship of the Pet Loss and GrievingClient seminar at this year’s OVC.

❑ Support of the Delta Society’s People PetPartner program, which certifies dogs and their

handlers to visit hospitals, nursing homes andsimilar facilities.

❑ Support of a Web-based educationalprogram, Nip-the-Bite, which is designed tohelp reduce the number of dog bites and toenhance the relationship between people anddogs.

❑ An annual scholarship for a veterinarystudent at Oregon State University.

❑ Sponsorship of a symposium track thatexplored the connection between animal abuseand human abuse and violence.

❑ Support of the Oregon Animal Hall ofFame program.

❑ Sponsorship of an educational seminaron pediatric medicine.

The OAHF also has a well-establishedmemorial card program to honor and recognizethe departed animals in our lives -- yet anotherway in which to pay tribute to the specialconnection we know as the human-animalbond.

Allied Industry Representative of the YearThis award recognizes an individual who

exhibits exceptional service to the profession.This year’s honors were bestowed upon JohnHerkner, the Senior Territory Manager for PfizerAnimal Health’s Livestock Products Division.

John grew up in San Francisco andgraduated with a degree in agriculture fromCal Poly and UC Davis. After college he taughtagriculture in Half Moon Bay, Calif., and laterentered the cattle business, where he raisedbeefmasters in Idaho.

His career with Pfizer began 17 years ago asa small animal representative. In fact, he methis wife, Karen, during a call on a practice inBeaverton.

Five practitioners nominated John for thisyear’s award. Some of the comments included:“John delivers exceptional one-on-one serviceto clinics and clients, keeping veterinariansabreast of the latest products, making the timeon behalf of the practitioners to visit ranchers,and organizing veterinarian and producermeetings that are both informative andentertaining.”

According to one of the nominatingveterinarians: “John has made Pfizer veryhuman -- easy to deal with and especially

L to R: Dr. Marty DeWees, Meritorious Service Award honoree, visits with Terrie Corcoran, BurnsVeterinary Supply, in the Exhibit Hall.

7

accessible to the entire veterinary teams he meetsdaily with on his rounds.”

President’s AwardThis honor is given at the discretion of the

OVMA president to an individual who has beenhelpful to the president during his or her term ofoffice.

Dr. Keck took some liberty with this award,presenting it to an individual who has served bothas a mentor and as a former legislative advocate asa volunteer with the Association: Dr. GordonCunningham of Salem.

Dr. Cunningham served as chair of theOVMA’s legislative committee for six-plus yearsand was instrumental in helping the VeterinaryMedical Examining Board obtain rulemakingauthority.

He is recognized not only for his tireless effortson behalf of veterinary medicine but also for hisclarion call of “Only Action Gets Results.”

Animal Hall of FameEach year the Association honors animals who,

through unselfish and courageousaccomplishments, exemplify the affection, loyalty,security, public service, and the value of thehuman-animal bond. At the OVC in March threeanimals were inducted into the Oregon AnimalHall of Fame.

HeroChassa, a two-year-old female Borzoi, was

presented with the Hero Award. She wasnominated by Dr. Steve Brown of Newport.

Last year, Chassa’s owner, Chris Meyers, wasstrolling along the beach in Lincoln City with herfour sight hounds when she noticed that Chassawas near the surf appearing distressed and wasunresponsive to Chris’s whistle. Upon further

investigation, Chris found Chassa in the surf witha human body and two Shih-tzus. The collars ofthe Shih-tzus were attached to leashes that weretightly wrapped around their owner’s leg. Chriswaded into the rising tide, which was at timesmore than waist deep, to reach the body and thedogs, who were using their owner’s body as a liferaft.

Once Chris was able to free the dogs and getthem to safety, she turned her attention topreventing the man’s body from washing out tosea -- a difficult task given the undertow. As Chrisstruggled to bring the man to shore, Chassaremained in the water. Finally, Chris looped a leashthrough the man’s belt and clipped it to the Chassa’scollar. Together, they were able to get the man toshore, where Chris attempted CPR. Paramedicssoon arrived, but were unable to resuscitate theman.

Had it not been for Chassa’s alertness, Chrissays she would never have ventured down to thesurf. With Chassa’s help, she was able to retrievethe body, and perhaps spare the man’s family theadded grief and uncertainty the would likely hadfelt had he been washed out to sea. In addition tobeing a hero and a worthy inductee into theOregon Animal Hall of Fame, Chassa is a showdog who travels the country participating incompetitions. Also, Sen. Vicki Walker, Eugene,has invited Chris and Chassa to attend a legislativesession on May 11 and be recognized by the Senate.

Professional/ServiceGleason is an eight-year-old Labrador retriever

who is this year’s recipient of the Professional/Service Award. Dr. Darla Jochum of Jacksonvillenominated him for the award.

Gleason’s career as a guide dog was cut shortby recurring allergies. However, his special trainingwas put to good use by Sue Furrobotten of

Medford, who adopted Gleason and enrolled himin the Delta Society’s Pet Partners program, whichcertifies dogs and their handlers to visit hospitals,nursing homes, and retirement facilities. Needlessto say, Gleason passed the necessary tests withflying colors, and for several years now regularlyvisits the pediatric ward at a local hospital a fewtimes a week.

Over the years, Gleason has bonded withpatients to extraordinary results. In one instance,Gleason visited a two-year-old boy in the ICUwho had suffered a head trauma and who hadbeen partly comatose for three days. When Gleasonhopped up onto the bed beside the boy, the boyawakened, sat up and said, “Doggie!”

In another case, Gleason regularly visited apatient hospitalized with a high risk pregnancyover the course of six weeks. When the motherwent into labor, the baby became distressed andan emergency Caesarian section was planned.Gleason arrived to keep the patient company. Overthe next two hours, the baby’s heart rate returnedto normal and the baby was delivered naturally.

Gleason bonds quickly with children, and didso with Alexann Krumm of Central Point, whohad been diagnosed with bone cancer. Sheendured months of chemotherapy, a legamputation, and many other surgeries during herillness. Over 11 months, Gleason visited Alexannregularly, often for up to eight hours in a day.Ultimately, Alexann lost her life to cancer, but, asAlexann’s mother, Wendy, said, “Gleason issomeone she can connect with and forget aboutwhere she is and why she’s here, especially on thebad days.”

Glenn Kolb with Chris Meyers (far right), owner of Chassa, the inductee for the Hero Award, and thetwo Shih-tzus that were rescued from the surf in Lincoln City.

Dr. Howard Wagner with his wife, Rena,following his being presented with the VeterinaryService Award.

OregonAnimalHealth

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Companion AnimalThe story behind the inductee in this category was

presented, but out of respect for the dog’s owner, andbecause of privacy concerns, pseudonyms were usedin sharing the information. Dr. Susan Morgan ofPortland nominated the dog for this award.

Here is Ginger’s story -- in the words of her owner.“Dear Dr. Morgan: I want to thank you for the

donation you made to the pet memorial program. I’msorry I’ve taken so long to acknowledge your gift, butI’ve taken Ginger’s loss pretty hard. She wasn’t just adog, she was my constant companion. She went towork with me everyday, and we were seldom apartmore than a couple of hours at a time.

“She was the best friend I’ve ever had. She not onlytaught me an awful lot about her, but also about myselfand life. I’m sure you remember when I got her; shewas seven weeks old and we were living in a beat up‘54 Chevy pickup parked nearby. I was messed up ondrugs and booze and didn’t care about anyone oranything, except getting high. Ginger changed that.

“It took that cold winter living in the front seat ofmy truck to realize I wasn’t being fair to her. Shedeserved more than shivering in the cold andwondering if I was going to buy her dog food or drugsfor me.

“Some people change their lives with supportgroups like AA, and some by finding ‘God.’ Gingerhad that life-changing impact on me. All of the folks Iran around with are dead, overdosed on drugs. I literallyowe her my life.

“She’s gone, and I miss her terribly. Yet, she’ll alwaysbe with me. I also feel that I owe you a great deal aswell for all of the wonderful care you gave her overthese past years. Even though she wanted to bite you,you took care of her. She was funny that way; shedidn’t want anyone to touch her, except for me. I’mgrateful for all the time you didn’t charge me for visitsor gave me free medicine and discounts when I was

living on the street and struggling to make ends meet.It really made a difference. I thank you, and Gingerthanks you.

“This $500 is from Ginger. It’s her way of givingback in gratitude for your helping her when we werestruggling. Use it for someone else’s dog, when it’s ownercan’t pay for treatment. Tell them it’s a gift from a veryspecial dog named Ginger.”

Addendum: Mr. Smith was a Vietnam veteran whoreturned from the war hooked on drugs and alcohol.

He currently is gainfully employed and doing well,and often thinks fondly of Ginger, who was more than10 years old when she died. Dr. Morgan says that hehas a new dog in his life.

The Oregon Animal Health

Foundation promotes the

health and welfare of all

animals, including our loyal

companions, by funding a

variety of charitable,

educational, and scientific

programs.

The OAHF is supported by

private gifts from the

general public and dona-

tions from veterinarians.

Many veterinarians contrib-

ute to the Foundation in

memory of their clients’

beloved pets.

To partcipate in the

memorial card program,

contact the OVMA office at

(800) 235-3502.

Dr. Gordon Cunningham, recipient of the President’sAward.

L to R: Dr. Leon Pielstick of Burns congratulates John Herkner, Pfizer Animal Health, for being recognizedas the Allied Industry Representative of the Year.

Oregon PlanSponsors

▼▼▼▼▼

9

Thank you to the sponsors

who support our public

relations and education

programs:

�Architectural Werks

�Avid

�Boehringer Ingelheim

Vetmedica Inc.

�Burns Veterinary

Supply

�Fort Dodge Animal

Health

�IDEXX Veterinary

Services

�Michael Kovsky,

DVM

�Merial

�Oregon Mutual

Insurance

�Planning Resources

Corporation

�And...Oregon

Veterinarians!

To become an Oregon Plan

sponsor, call the OVMA

office at (800) 235-3502.

(White Paper , continued from page 5)

healthcare that are unrecognized by the AmericanVeterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

● The term “board certification” in veterinarymedicine connotes standards and testing that arecarefully developed and scrutinized by the AmericanBoard of Veterinary Specialties. Self-appointedcertifying agencies usually have a financial investmentin the training programs leading to certification.Furthermore, graduates of their animal training coursesoften appear to feel entitled to work on animals withoutveterinary supervision. The issue of certification shouldbe addressed in public policy so that the public clearlyunderstands the meaning and significance of anAVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organizationversus that of a self-appointed certifying body.

● The issue of accountability for the actions ofnon-veterinarians who provide direct treatment toanimals must rest with the veterinary licensing boardso that no confusion exists about the authority todiscipline any provider of animal healthcare (whetherthe provider is unlicensed or licensed by a separateboard).

Veterinary education in integrative therapiesAn increasing number of non-veterinarians who

utilize alternative therapies are petitioning for directaccess to animals without veterinary involvement ormanagement. However, a cadre of veterinarians whoare well educated in integrative therapies(1) alreadyexists. Their numbers increase annually. This growingtrend should receive support by the veterinaryprofession in order to ensure that when animals requirethis type of care, a trained veterinary professionalprovides it in an appropriate manner and delivers thehighest quality care available.Certain veterinarians practicing integrative medicinehave already begun the process of seeking specialtyrecognition through the American Board of VeterinarySpecialties (ABVS) for specific modalities. Their effortsare commendable, and the veterinary medicalprofession should encourage such efforts. Thestandards expected of these integrative specialties areno different from conventional specialties.

Similarly, the number of accredited veterinarytraining institutions offering integrative therapyeducation is multiplying, but the need for moreprograms remains. Veterinary medical associationsshould deliver continuing education programs whichdemonstrate that the highest standard of animalhealthcare may include integrative therapies.

Conclusions● We reject the suggestion that unlicensed

persons may practice veterinary medicine withoutveterinary involvement or management.

● If the provision of services to animals by non-veterinarians is deemed to be in the best interest of theanimal and protective of public welfare, then non-veterinarians must work under veterinary supervision.

● Risks to public health and animal welfareincrease proportionately to the decreasing involvementof the veterinarian.

● We encourage more veterinarians to pursueeducation in integrative therapies.

● ABVS-recognized board certification inveterinary integrative therapies should be encouraged.

● Rigorous educational programs in integrativetherapies should be offered through veterinary schoolsand veterinary medical association meetings.

The Coalition on the Scope of Veterinary Practice preparedthis paper, and is comprised of the following associations:

● American Holistic Veterinary MedicalAssociation

● Colorado Veterinary Medical Association● Florida Veterinary Medical Association● Illinois Veterinary Medical Association● Missouri Veterinary Medical Association● Nevada Veterinary Medical Association● Ohio Veterinary Medical Association● Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association● Texas Veterinary Medical Association● Washington State Veterinary Medical

Association● Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association

(1) “Integrative therapies” refers to complementary forms ofhealthcare that work alongside conventional approaches toexpand therapeutic options, speed recovery, optimize treatmenteffectiveness, etc.

OVMA display at the State FairYes, it is that time of year again, with preparations for the Association’s annual exhibit at the Oregon

State Fair in Salem underway. Each summer the OVMA’s display is among the most active in theJackman Long Building at the fairgrounds. Which has us reach one conclusion -- that people love theiranimals and love asking veterinarians and technicians for advice on animal care.

Here is how you can help out. First, sign on to participate on the State Fair Committee. And second,set aside a few hours of your time between August 26 and September 5 for a shift at the display.

To do so, or for more general information on the Association’s State Fair activities, you can call theOVMA office at (800) 235-3502 or send an e-mail to Raina Dey, public relations director, at thefollowing: raina.dey@oregonvma.org. Thanks for your consideration.

ClassifiedGuidelines

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10

Classifieds

Classified ads will appear inone issue of the OVMAmember newsletter (pub-lished bimonthly: February,April, June, August,October and December)and on our Web site for 2months, at which time youmay request an extension.Please contact us when youhave filled the position orsold the item so that we mayremove your ad. We mustreceive your ad by the 15thof the month prior topublication (eg. July 15thfor the August issue). Pleasekeep your ad to about 50words or less. All ads aresubject to editing.

Members: FREE

Non-Members: $50(2 months on Web and 1newsletter) Mail your adalong with a check to theOVMA.

Send us your ad:Fax:(503) 363-4218Mail:1880 Lancaster Dr. NE,Ste. 118Salem, OR 97305E-mail:classifieds@oregonvma.org

Responding to blind ads:Please indicate which ad youare responding to when youinquire with the OVMAoffice.

Veterinarians

PORTLAND METRO AREA

FT associate for a growing, well-equipped Beaverton SAhospital. Great staff and working conditions. No emergencies.One week day plus every other Saturday off. Experiencedpractitioners or new graduates (for full mentoring program)are welcome. Excellent salary/benefits package. Definite buy-in potential. Send resume or letter of interest to: VeterinaryOpportunity, PO Box 580, Colton, OR 97017. 04/05

FT/PT associate(s) needed to join two owner doctors in amore than 60-year-old practice with full range of medical andpreventive services offered. Primarily serve dogs and cats andthe occasional pocket pet. We practice high quality medicinein a fully-computerized practice. Please send resume to Drs.LaBorde and Holenstein, Gresham Animal Hospital, 520NW Division, Gresham, OR 97030. Or fax resume to (503)665-3182. 04/05

East Hills Animal Clinic in Clackamas seeks an experienced,compassionate FT SA associate to provide the highest qualitymedicine. Excellent staff and clients. Compensationcommensurate with experience. Contact Dr. Todd McNabb at(503) 698-8374. Send a fax to (503) 698-2268 or an e-mailto drtmcnabb@msn.com. 04/05

Great place to work. Outstanding five-doctor seeks anexperienced associate. Over 10,000 sq. ft. hospital has state-of-the-art equipment. Excellent compensation with benefitspackage. Please call Dr. Dick Werner, Raleigh Hills VeterinaryClinic, at (503) 292-9227. Or send an e-mail tomike_mclure1@yahoo.com. 04/05

FT associate for a three-doctor practice in Cornelius (nearHillsboro). If you want to develop a specialty interest, yourown clientele, have an opportunity for a long affiliation andstill have a life, then this may be for you. Excellent staff,relaxed environment, full benefits, no emergencies. Pleasesend resume to Dr. Bob Bullard (rkbdvm@aol.com) or SabrinaDiosdado, CVPM (sabbyrina@juno.com) to CorneliusVeterinary Clinic PC, 1280 N. Adair St., Cornelius, OR97113. Fax to (503) 357-5230. 04/05

Compassionate, energetic associate with excellentcommunication skills sought for a new feline practice. If youare serious about your patient care, advancing your skills infeline medicine and considerate with clients, call us. We takeextraordinary care in all aspects of feline medicine. Check ourWeb site at www.portlandcats.net. To apply send a resume toCat Hospital of Portland, 8065 SE 13th Ave., Portland, OR97202. Or send at e-mail to wendy@portlandcats.net. 04/05

We are looking for a PT SA veterinarian for a growing MApractice. We emphasize strong client relationships andcompassionate quality medicine. Medical, dental, vision,retirement and CE benefits. Contact Dr. Dave Christenson at(503) 668-4137. Fax your resume to (503) 668-5353. Orsend e-mail to docdave@cascadeaccess.com. 04/05

Experienced associate available on our health care team.Hollywood Pet Hospital is a three-doctor, AAHA, 60-yearestablished companion animal hospital located in theconvenient Hollywood area of NE Portland. Schedule isThursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays, with occasional

extra days. Minimal surgery involved. Excellent clientelewith a high average transaction charge. Salary is baseplus, with benefits. Send cover letter, resume andreferences to Dr. Ward at Hollywood Pet Hospital, 3565NE Sandy Blvd., Portland, OR 97232. Fax to (503)234-1584. Or call (503) 234-9229. 04/05

Wanted. PT to FT experienced veterinarian. We’re asmaller clinic in SW Portland, concentrating onindividualized care and client education, and located in anice neighborhood with a good clientele and staff. Youcan check us out on the web at www.hillsdalevet.com.Please send your inquirys and resume to:drrflecker@yahoo.com. 04/05

We are seeking a PT/FT associate for our four doctorpractice in Newberg. We are a fully-equipped, growingpractice that provides excellent patient care. Spaciousfacility, excellent staff, and equipment that includesultrasound and endoscopy. The practice is primarilycompanion animal, with some EQ and llama/alpacaclients. We are looking for an individual who can comein and continue our growth and bring in new clients.Send resume to: Newberg Veterinary Hospital, 3716 E.Portland Rd., Newberg, OR 97132. Call (503) 538-8303. E-mail to askthevet@newbergvet.com. 04/05

Veterinary associate for a three-doctor MA practice inbeautiful Warren, located 30 miles northwest of Portland.Easy access to Portland, with a wide array of outdooractivities. Busy practice with a good-natured andhardworking staff and a solid clientele. Compensationcommensurate with experience. New graduates welcome.Contact Dr. Lew Fowler, Midway Veterinary Hospital,34453 McGary Lane, Warren, OR 97053. Call (503)397-6470. Fax resume to (503) 397-3010. 04/05

We are seeking a PT/FT associate for our eastside SApractice. This is a great opportunity to practice excellentmedicine with state-of-the-art equipment and a greatclientele. We are looking for a veterinarian who cancontribute to the growth of our practice. Send resume to:Paws & Claws Pet Medical Center, 26745 SE Stark St.,Troutdale, OR 97060. Fax to (503) 669-1885. E-mail:mary@pawsandclawsvet.com. 04/05

PT associate for an AAHA-accredited SA practice. Joinour team. We have a wonderful, diverse clientele and awarm, caring, competent staff. Seeking an enthusiasticassociate who enjoys medicine and surgery and who iscomfortable running the show as a single doctor on daysthey work. Send a cover letter and resume to: Dr. DeborahSanders, Lombard Animal Hospital, 607 NE LombardSt., Portland, OR 97211. Fax resume to (503) 285-2177. 04/05

Practice at the original Banfield, The Pet Hospital,emphasizing quality medicine in our stand alone spaciousfacility. You will help pets and families, where OptimumWellness Plans were invented, the cycle of serviceoriginated, and where our vision of treating pets likefamily was founded. Contact Dr. Todd Nash attodd.nash@banfield.net. 04/05

SA veterinarian to join two doctors in an establishedpractice in Estacada. Great opportunity to practice good

11

medicine close to Portland and the beautiful outdoors. Newfacility, well equipped, a caring staff. A four day work week,plus benefits. Contact Dr. Kay Edwards at (503) 630-3538.Fax resume to (503) 630-7447. E-mail:efvhdvm@cascadeaccess.com. 04/05

PT SA associate for a practice in SW Portland. Contact Dr.Janine Buckley, Arbor Pet Clinic, 4704 SW Scholls-FerryRd., Portland, OR 97225. Call (503) 291-1717. 04/05

Enjoy a great quality of life along with a challenging career.Banfield, The Pet Hospital is seeking experienced veterinariansFT and PT veterinarians to help our practice reach its highestpotential. Work with our state-of-the-art equipment.Outstanding compensation/benefits. Contact Dr. Bob Lesterat (503) 407-2644. Send an e-mail to bob.lester@banfield.netor visit our website at www.banfield.net. 04/05

Veterinarian for PT work in Beaverton. A seasoned professionalis preferred. We have a great staff and a wonderful clientele.Compensation and hours negotiable. Fax resume with a coverletter and responsibilities desired to Dr. Don Scarpinatto at(503) 614-9960. Or mail to Best Care Animal Hospital,15915 Schendel Ave. #105, Beaverton, OR 97006. 04/05

WILLAMETTE VALLEY

SA veterinarian for a growing full-service hospital in themid-Willamette Valley. This is a two-doctor practice beingoperated by the owner and a relief veterinarian. We are fullyequipped with most equipment, including surgical laser. Arecently built hospital in a busy area. Experience preferred,but new graduates considered. Available to start in May orJune 2005. Fax your resume to (503) 981-0908. 04/05

Fourth veterinarian wanted to practice high quality medicineand surgery in a long-established, busy SA practice nearEugene in the beautiful Willamette Valley. FT position with acompetitive salary and benefits. No emergencies. New graduateconsidered. Please call (541) 935-4151. Fax your resume to(541) 935-1525. E-mail: vvhdvm@televar.com. 04/05

Available in May. Clinician for an established, growing, 24-hour SA emergency and critical care center. Operates out of awell-equipped (ultrasound, dentistry, surgery, radiology, bloodpressure monitor, CO2 laser, in-house labs -- VetTest, I-Stat,ABC Analyzer -- blood bank and more) practice. We boast afriendly and very competent support staff. Beautiful Corvallis,home of Oregon State University, is one hour from the coastand Cascade mountains. Pay is based on a percentage ofgenerated income ($50 to $60k), plus a health/benefits/CEpackage. Position is for an average of seven days per month.Send resume to Dr. Kristina Cox, AECCC, 650 SW 3rd St.,Corvallis, OR 97333. Fax to (541) 753-2278. Or call (541)5750 for more information. 04/05

Motivated EQ associate desired to practice at our new facilitynear Eugene. Established full-service MA practice withambulatory and hospital caseload. Emphasis on qualitypreventive medicine, dentistry, reproduction, lamenessdiagnosis and treatment. Guaranteed base salary, plus incentivecommissions and benefits. Practice vehicle provided. SA andCamelid work available to supplement caseload. Contact Dr.Wes Violet or Dr. Kris Willaman, PO Box 430, Creswell,OR 97426. Send an e-mail to swvc430@centurytel.net or call(541) 895-5665. 04/05

Fourth veterinarian wanted to practice high quality medicineand surgery in a long-established, busy SA practice nearEugene. This is a FT position, with competitive salary andbenefits. No emergencies. New graduates considered. Please

call (541) 935-4151. Fax resume to (541) 935-1525 orsend an e-mail to vvhdvm@televar.com. 04/05

Immediate opening for a FT associate for a busy, progressivethree-doctor practice with both rural and town locations. Noemergencies. Great staff and good benefits. Contact Bill Young,DVM, West Eugene Animal Hospital, 1175 City View,Eugene, OR 97402. Call days at (541) 342-5858, eveningsat (541) 687-7549. Fax to (541) 687-7549. 04/05

FT position available in an AAHA-certified five-doctor practice.Busy, fast paced, large client base hospital. A great opportunityfor new graduates. We treat all companion animals, as well assome exotics. We see a large variety of cases. This is a four-daya week position, with three days off each week. If this is aposition that sounds interesting to you, please contact us.Send resume to Dr. Arthur Mills, Companion Pet Clinic,3068 Lancaster Dr. NE, Salem, OR 97305. 04/05

Busy, successful, well-established practice in Salem is lookingfor a SA associate. We are a progressive clinic that focuses onclient education and preventive medicine. We have an in-house lab, endoscopy, radiology, laser, and an excellent well-trained support staff. We offer a four-day work week with noafter hours emergencies or on call. Positon offers excellentpotential income. Production with income guarantee. Longterm associate is desired. Ideal candidate will have excellentcommunication skills and a desire to practice high qualitymedicine and surgery. We strive for a fun and enjoyable workexperience and encourage interested candidates to apply. Pleasesend your resume or CV to Practice Manager, 1922 SummitAve. NW, Salem, OR 97304. 04/05

FT/PT veterinarian for an AAHA qualified SA practice inEugene. High quality, client-centered medicine, withultrasound and endoscopy. No emergencies. Insurance, CE,401k, production based bonus. Contact Joann Voss, DVM,at (541) 485-4595. E-mail: joann.voss@vcamail.com.04/05

Looking for a PT veterinarian for a small, friendly SA practicein Springfield. Need an associate two or three days a week.Experience necessary, as you should be solo for those days.Possibility of sharing with another clinic to make FT. CallCatherine Rowan, DVM, at (541) 747-0780. Fax your resumeto (541) 747-0781. Or mail your resume to 1814 Q Street,Springfield, OR 97477. 04/05

Veterinarian, FT or PT, for an established, growing SA practicein Eugene. We value client communications, a friendly workenvironment, and lifetime learning. No emergencies. Newgraduates considered. Reply to Mick Helton, DVM, The ArkVeterinary Clinic, 4965 Barger Dr., Eugene, OR 97402.Call days at (541) 689-4657 and evenings at (541) 689-8520. Send a fax to (541) 689-8520 or an e-mail tommhelton@comcast.net. 04/05

FT associate for a busy, well-equipped, recently remodeled,AAHA MA practice. Located in the mid-Willamette Valley,one hour from the coast and mountains. Vehicle provided,comprehensive benefit plan, CE, and paid vacation. Newgraduates welcome. Mail your resume to Linn VeterinaryHospital, 6011 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany, OR 97322. Fax to(541) 928-2957. Call (541) 926-0291. 04/05

OREGON COAST

One or two DVMs wanted. Live in an outdoor paradise on thebeautiful Oregon coast. Beach comb on your lunch break.SA/exotics practice. Established 30 years. New hospital stockedwith progressive equipment. Happiest and funniest support

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The OVMA newsletter ispublished every twomonths: February, April,June, August, October, andDecember. Ad inserts mustbe received at the OVMAoffice by the 15th of themonth prior to publication(eg. July 15th for the Augustissue). Your ad may besingle or double-sided, butmust be printed on 8.5 x11” paper and remain un-folded. We need 1,200 cop-ies, or we can make copiesfrom your original for ap-proximately $55.

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staff. Excellent salary and benefits. Love to mentor. Goodopportunity for friends or married couple. Contact Dr.Jill Hanson at (541) 269-2413. E-mail:tattoedtabby@hotmail.com. 04/05

Got crab? Harvests abound in beautiful Florence. Busytwo-doctor practice looking for a third FT veterinarian.Primarily SA or MA. Located on the central Oregoncoast, one hour west of Eugene. Come join our common-sense practice and fun-loving staff. Recreationalopportunities, friendly small town make this a great placeto live and work. Excellent salary and benefits. Call (541)271-5824. 04/05

Progressive and diversified SW Oregon MA practicelooking for a FT associate to help with growing clientele.On the ocean and nearby world-class golf course andbountiful outdoorecreation. Call Alice Baum at (541)347-9471. Or mail your resume to PO Box 295,Bandon, OR 97411. Send an e-mail toalice@harborside.com. 04/05

Expanding SA practice in Florence, OR. Need thirdveterinarian. Large new facility. Serving Florence for over40 years. Contact Dr. Jack Eichelberger at (541) 997-2114. Oceanside Veterinary Hospital, PO Box T,Florence, OR 97439. 04/05

SOUTHERN OREGON

FT/PT associate for a multi-vet Medford hospital. Wellequipped, beautiful facility, with a stable, friendlysupport staff, including two CVTs. Excellentcompensation (24% or salary, depending on experience).Plus additional health and retirement benefits. No on-call time. Long term association preferred. New graduatesconsidered. Please call Dave Harder, DVM, at (541)779-4893. E-mail: harderjah@aol.com. 04/05

EQ associate. Solo ambulatory practice established 10years and growing with the area. Clinic facility is underconstruction. This is a great place to live, work, play andstay. Looking for someone with one year internship orexperience who is looking for a long term practice-building association, but will consider new graduates.The practice is 100% EQ. Weekends shared equally. CEencouraged. Submit resume and requirements to SouthSide Equine Clinic, LLC, PO Box 69, Murphy, OR97533. Call (541) 862-2511 or send an e-mail tosouthsideequine@earthlink.net. 04/05

FT associate for a well-established seven-doctor MApractice in western Oregon. Excellent team-oriented staffsupport. Competitive salary and benefits package, withshared emergency rotation. Experience doctor or newgraduates welcome. Visit us at www.baileyvet.com. Sendresume to Karie Wentz, Bailey Veterinary Clinic, 248NW Garden Valley Blvd., Roseburg, OR 97470. Fax to(541) 673-4138. E-mail: karie@baileyvet.com. 04/05

Veterinarian for our growing two-doctor, tow-facility SApractice. Both practices are client centered and wellequipped. Great potential for EQ and EQ/SA mix ifdesired. Experience preferred, but new graduates areencourage to apply. Please send resume to: OfficeManager, Klamath Veterinary Services, 6360 South SixthSt., Klamath Falls, OR 97603. Call (541) 884-9383 orfax resume to (541) 884-8299. 04/05

Veterinary position, PT, for a SA practice in Rogue River.One to two days per week. Upbeat staff and a wonderful

clientele in a cozy small town. Call days at (541) 582-1440 or evenings at (541) 582-2061. Or fax yourresume to (541) 582-0661. 04/05

SA veterinarian needed between two busy AAHApractices. Enjoy a 4-day work week with no emergencies.This is yoru chance to practice high quality medicinewith a great staff and have some variety between twohospitals. Send resume to: Dr. Robert Landon, RogueAnimal Hospital, 1455 N. Riverside, Medford, OR97501. Or call (541) 779-4414. 04/05

CENTRAL OREGON

Veterinarian for rapidly growing, fast paced SA practice.The outdoor recreational capitol of the Pacific NW.Attractive salary, benefits, and percentage of productionpackage. Partnership potential for the right person. Pleasecontact Dr. Steve Myrin at Companion Pet Clinics ofCentral Oregon. Call (541) 388-0262. Or fax resumeto (541) 388-3737. 04/05

PT SA veterinarian for a progressive SA practice in Sisters.We emphasize quality compassionate care and are lookingfor an enthusiastic, motivated individual who enjoyssurgery. Experience preferred. Hours may include someSaturdays and an occasional on call. Send resume to:Personnel, PO Box 1030, Sisters, OR 97559. 04/05

EASTERN OREGON

FT/PT veterinarian for a well-established four-doctorMA practice in Eastern Oregon. New graduates welcome.Sharerd emergency rotation. Vehicle provided. Sendresume by fax to (541) 567-6467 or by e-mail tohvc@charterinternet.com. Att: Office Manager. 04/05

MA associate for a three-veterinarian, progressive, well-equipped, excellently-staffed, and recently remodeledclinic. Our practice is 50 percent SA and 50 percent LA(cow/calf and equine). Our community of 5,000 islocated between the high desert and mountains, withmany opportunities for outdoor recreation. For moreinformation, contact Dr. Leon Pielstick, Harney CountyVeterinary Clinic, at (541) 6450 days or (541) 573-2501 evenings. Send a resume to 1050 Crane Blvd.,Burns, OR 97720. 04/05

OTHER STATES

FT and relief. Quality of life is important to us. Enjoythe natural beauty of our mountains and beaches, hike,ski, bike, sail, or visit nearby vibrant, globally-focusedSeattle. We are seking FT and Relief Veterinariansinterested in balancing their free time with providingthe highest quality medicine at our well-equipped,progressive, after-hours SA Emergency Clinic. AAHA-accredited hospital; sevoflurane, laser, transfusionmedicine, ultrasound, blood gas, and a great tech supportstaff. We value integrity, ethics, teamwork, and clientservice. Salary commensurate with experience. Excellentbenefits for FT. Evening and weekend shifts available.Send resume by e-mail to herskine@pilchuckvet.com orcall Dr. Tim John at (800) 208-9192. 04/05

FT/PT associatae for a SA practice on the Kenai Peninsula.We have a great team environment and are looking forsomeone to help grow and expand our services. If youenjoy the outdoors -- hiking, camping, world class fishing-- you’ll enjoy what the Kenai Peninsula has to offer.Salary is commensurate with experience and schedule.

New graduates are welcome. For more details, call JimDelker, DVM, at (907) 262-4581 or send an e-mailjddelker@aol.com. 04/05

Veterinarian needed for a progressive 4-doctor practicein beautiful Northern Idaho. Sunset magazine listsSandpoint as the most desirable place to live in theNorthwest. Skiing, hiking, fishing, and a rich culturalenvironment right outside your door. Competitive salaryand benefits available. Call Pend Oreille VeterinaryService at (208) 263-2145 or send your resume to 895Kootenai Cut-off Rd., Ponderay, ID 83852. 04/05

Busy veterinary clinic seeks to add an additionalveterinarian. Well equipped hospital. Friendly staff.Competitive salary. Please send resume to Dr. JosephGiffoni, Companion Pet Clinic, 11516 SE Mill PlainBlvd., Suite 2M, Vancouver, WA 98684. Or call (360)254-8811. 04/05

Relief VeterinariansRoss Weinstein, DVM. Six years of experience, SA,Exotics, Wildlife. Available for relief or PT employmentin the greater Portland area. Progressive, conscientiousand flexible to your practice needs. Home is (503) 244-6060, Cell is (503) 916-9916, and e-mail isrossweins@aol.com.

Linda Coenen, DVM. Relief veterinarian for SouthernOregon, SA only. A 1985 graduate. Have practiced inOregon for 17 years. Available for long or short termrelief. Call (541) 660-1907.

Jennifer Martin, DVM, UCD 1991. Available for SArelief in the Portland/Salem/Bend regions. I amexperienced, easygoing and conscientious, and enjoy softtissue surgery. Please contact me at (503) 848-0563 orby e-mail at jlmdvm@comcast.net.

Clifford McVey, DVM, UCD 1990. Experienced,personable SA veterinarian available for relief work inthe Portland/Salem/Bend areas. Short notice okay. Call(503) 848-0563. E-mail: c.mcvey@comcast.net.

Melinda Ann Knox, DVM, Tufts 1998. Experiencedand available for SA and Feline exclusive relief work inOregon. Conscientious, flexible, reliable, will upholdyour practice standards and relate well with your clientsand staff. Resume and rates, upon request. Please e-mailto mboston999@aol.com or call (503) 675-8061.

Sara Grimes, DVM, WIS 1996. Available for SA andexotic relief work in the greater Portland area. Call (503)761-3635. E-mail: kumprey@hevanet.com.

Marc Cohen, DVM. Now booking my 2005 calendar.Available weekends only. More than 20 years of practice.experience. TPLO certified. References available. Contactme at (503) 539-4879.

Melanie Haase, DVM. Available for SA relief work inthe southwest Portland area and Sherwood. Comfortablewith all routine and soft tissue surgeries. Please call (503)625-1643. dairy production and companion animalmedicine. Please call (360) 600-2824 or send an e-mailto katebate@hotmailc.om.

Larry Peterson, DVM. Available for relief work in CentralOregon. SA, maybe some MA. Call (541) 771-0586.

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Lorraine Beaumont, DVM. Available for relief work inOregon and Northern California. Twenty plus yearsexperience in SA and emergency veterinary medicine.Contact lorraineb@ucov.com or call (530) 753-1013.

Shelley Barlow, DVM, providing excellent SA reliefservice in the Willamette Valley for more than five years.In SA practice 10 years prior to beginning relief service.At home in the exam room or surgery suite. Call (503)831-0592.

Patricia Joy Shea, DVM, ORS ’99, SA internship AUB’99-’00. Available for SA relief and emergency in theWillamette Valley (Salem to Cottage Grove, preferred,Portland okay). Conscientious, flexible, good internalmedicine skills. Call (541) 607-3918.

Marilyn Waters, DVM, available for SA relief in themid-Willamete Valley. Flexible, friendly, committed toquality care and client relations. Call (541) 752-7859.

Diane (Cascia) Alexander, DVM. Available for SA reliefin the mid- to northern Willamette Valley.Compassionate, reliable care. Please call (503) 363-9727. References available.

Arthur Lahm, DVM, available for relief work in Oregon.Call (503) 784-8224.

Elissa Jonas, DVM, for SA relief in the Portland area.Call (503) 235-9582. Or contact me by e-mail:ejjonas@hotmail.com.

Sandra Waugh, DVM. Fourteen years of SA experience.Available for SA relief or PT in NW Oregon. Call (503)579-7713.

Donna Keirn, DVM, WSU ’83. SA or MA relief in ORand WA. Fourteen years experience in a MA practice,surgery, and emergency. Six years of relief work. Call(509) 773-3510 or (509) 250-0750. E-mail:dkeirndvm@gorge.net.

Carol Beck, DVM, available for SA and emergency reliefwork in Oregon and Washington. Please call (541) 908-3289.

Experienced relief veterinarian. Sheri Hensley, DVM.SA/EQ, in OR, WA and CA. Easygoing, flexible. Pleasecall me at (541) 327-1033.

Rachel Hawley, DVM, ’01 graduate of University ofWisconsin. Completed one year internship at Dove LewisEmergency Animal Hospital. Available for relief work inthe Portland metropolitan area. Call (503) 625-2760.

Holly M. O’Brien, DVM, WSU 2001. SA relief workavailable in greater Central Oregon region, Salem, andPortland. Short notice is okay. References available. Call(541) 280-4348. Send e-mail to: hollydvm@yahoo.com.

Paraprofessional Staff

PORTLAND METRO AREA

Veterinary assistant/receptionist or technician wantedPT at a SA hospital in Tigard/King City area. Experiencepreferred. Fax resume to Dr. Quin Christensen at (503)968-9861. For inquiries, call (503) 968-2911. 04/05

We are a SA progressive clinic in Wilsonville. We arelooking for a licensed technician for a FT head technicianposition. People skills are a must. This position wouldinclude nursing, CE training for assistants/technicians,assist the doctor with administration of pharmaceuticalclinical trials, scheduling for the technical staff, and otheradministrative tasks. We have an excellent staff that hasfun while working. Benefits include a generous CEpackage, vacation, supplemental health insurance andretirement. Contact Louise at (503) 682-1794. 04/05

Norhwest Veterinary Specialists is continuint go grow.We will be opening our emergency hospital in June of2005. We are also expanding our hospital another 5,000sq. ft. We will have positions opening for day, swing andgrave shifts. We have committed ourselves to provide thehighest level of diagnostic and therapeutic care possibleto our patients. Our technicians carry a tremendousresponsibility towards their care. Join our team, havefun, learn, and be challenged everyday. Visit our Website at www.northwestvetspecialists.com. Send your resumewith a cover letter to NWVS, 16756 SE 82nd Dr.,Clackamas, OR 97015, Attn: Pat Dudley, CVT. 04/05

CVT desired for a feline practice in Tualatin. Mondaythrough Friday mornings. FT with benefits. Salary isnegotiable. Call (503) 968-6000 and ask for Adrienneor Laura. 04/05

Licensed technician for progressive three-plus doctorpractice in downtown Lake Oswego. Position is openimmediately. FT, plus benefits. Experience necessary.Beautiful area. Fax resume to (503) 636-3001. 04/05

MA clinic in Warren (25 miles north of Portland) isseeking an experienced technician. Salary is commensuratewith experience. Send your resume to Midway VeterinaryHospital, 34453 McGary Lane, Warren, OR 97053.Fax to (503) 397-3010, Attn: Dr. Rieger. 04/05

Progressive specialty clinic with highly committedspecialists are seeking FT licensed technicians andveterinary assistants. Great perks include a four-day workweek with no weekends or evenings. Employees receivegreat wages, substantial profit sharing opportunities, paidvacations and holidays, medical and vision benefits, paidannual license fees, generous personal pet discounts,excellent paid CE. Our staff enjoys great clientrelationships and are dedicated coworkers who valueteamwork. Beautiful modern facility with state-of-the-art equipment and located near the heart of downtownPortland. Visit our website at www.vetreferral.petplace.com. Please fax your resume to (503) 775-9212, Attn:Krisit. Or call (503) 777-8999. 04/05

FT or PT CVT for a close-in, urban veterinary hospital.We are made up of caring individuals who stress theimportance of the human-animal bond. Our new, well-equipped facility is in a pleasant SW Portland locationwith state-of-the-art equipment and a staff that enjoysworking with each other. Learn more about us atwww.hillsdalevet.com. Please send your resume to:drflecker@yahoo.com. Fax to (503) 892-1821. 04/05

FT technician opening in a world-renowned minimallyinvasive surgical practice. We are dedicated to qualitymedicine and to our clients. Competitive salary andbenefits. Send resume to: Surgical Specialty Practice forAnimals, 4525 SW 109th Ave., Beaverton, OR 97005.Send by fax to (503) 529-9659. 04/05

CVT, FT or PT, (would consider experienced assistant)for SA practice. Experience required. Benefits. Candidatesshould possess strong interpersonal, communication andtechnical skills. They should be committed to qualityanimal care. Fax resume to M’lissa at (503) 614-9960.Or mail to: Best Care Animal Hospital, 15915 NWSchendel Ave. #105, Beaverton, OR 97006. 04/05

WILLAMETTE VALLEY

Technician/veterinary assistant for an EQ surgery andmedical center in Aurora. Some experience required.Benefits. FT, Thursday through Sunday. Candidatesshould possess strong communication and technical skillsand be committed to quality animal care. Send or faxresume to: Willamette Valley Equine, Attn: Michelle,23200 Hubbard Cutoff Rd. NE, Aurora, OR 97002.Fax is (503) 678-4265. 04/05

Receptionist for an EQ surgery and medical center inAurora. Busy four-doctor practice needs a highlymotivated individual to join our team for a 32-hourwork week, Monday through Thursday. Mail resume to:Willamette Valley Equine, Attn: Michelle, 23200Hubbard Cutoff Rd. NE, Aurora, OR 97002. Or fax to(503) 678-4265. 04/05

CVT for a six-doctor, AAHA, SA practice. Ultrasound,endoscopy, laser surgery, telemedicine, acupuncture,orthopedic manipulations, and herbal supplementation.Highly trained, empowered staff members.Compassionate, high quality medicine. Benefits: CE,health insurance, and profit sharing. Please deliver resume,handwritten cover letter and references to: McKenzieAnimal Hospital, 5303 Main St., Springfield, OR97478. 04/05

Eugene: Lead technician/assistant. Three-DVM equinepractice needs a dedicated team player. Horse handlingskills imperative, as is genuine customer service skills.Will oversee other assistants and be responsible for labwork, stocking trucks, assisting doctors, etc. Certificationwould be helpful, but not required. The right attitude,personality and fit is what we are looking for. Send coverletter, with salary requirements and resume to Del OesteEquine Hospital PC, 90238 Prairie Rd., Eugene, OR97402. 04/05

Position open with a Eugene practice for an officeadministrator. Must be people oriented, have at least fiveyears of experience managing a medical or veterinarypractice, and be able to perform all computerizedaccounting functions through financial statementpreparation. Includes A/P, A/R, bank reconciliation,payroll submission, managing cash flow needs, andmaintaining vendor and staff relations. Excellentcomputer knowledge and skills needed in Word, Excel,Quickbooks, and medical software packages. Must be ateam leader with vision and leadership skills to providegrowth for business and maintain positive staff morale.Pay commensurate with experience. Good benefits,insurance, and a 401k. Please send resume with coverletter, including salary requirements and history to BushAnimal Hospital, Attn: Administrator, 2415 OakmontWay, Eugene, OR 97401. 04/05

Veterinary technician. Immediate opening for overnightshift at a specialty hospital. State license required.Experience preferred, but will consider new graduate.Must be able to work independently. Wage is $15 to

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$18 per hour (negotiable) and commensurate withexperience. We offer health insurance, PTO, a 4-daywork week, uniform allowance, pet health care, and paidholidays. Please send resume and a handwritten coverletter to: OVRA, Att: Office Manager, 444 B Street,Springfield, OR 97477. Fax resume to (541) 726-4269or call (541) 726-1100 for more information. 04/05

We are seeking a technician for a five-doctor practice inWoodburn. Candidates should possess strongcommunication and technical skills. People skills, greatattitude, and attention to detail required. FT withbenefits. To apply, send your resume with a cover letterto Woodburn Veterinary Clinic, 225 S. Pacific Hwy.,Woodburn, OR 97071 or fax your resume to (503)982-2425, Attn: Fenya Semerikov. 04/05

OREGON COAST

AAHA accredited SA practice is looking for a long termdedicated CVT for a FT position to join our busy,progressive two-doctor practice on the beautiful Oregoncoast. Our staff of devoted coworkers value teamworkand served a great clientele. We offer a competitive wage,health insurance, retirement plan, profit sharing, CE,and a generous pet discount. Candidates should possessstrong interpersonal, communication, and technical skills.They should be committed to quality animal care. Ifyou’re looking for new opportunities, please e-mail orfax your resume, with a cover letter, to Lois Gilmore,The fax is (503) 861-3186 and the e-mail address is:drpope@pacifier.com. 04/05

SOUTHERN OREGON

Veterinary technician for a SA clinic in Grants Pass. Weprovide medical, vacation, and pay commensurate withability. Good working atmosphere, with flexible hours.Contact Dr. Bob Cole at (541) 476-8546. 04/05

Third licensed technician for a three-doctor SA hospital.Do what you were trained to do with an excellent staffand an excellent clientele. No grooming and onlyminimal boarding. Come live the good life in a smalltown within minutes of Ashland and Medford. ContactKiz Raddeman at (541) 899-1081. 04/05

CENTRAL OREGON

We are looking for an experienced veterinary technicianto join our fun and creative SA practice in Bend. Ski,bike, and hike in the beautiful Cascade Mountains andenjoy the lively town of Bend. Three great doctors and apositive staff are looking for a cheerful and reliabletechnician to help us with innovative treatments andcompassionate care. Salary is commensurate with ability.A licensed technician is preferred, but not required.Contact Dean Bolinger, DVM, Blue Sky VeterinaryClinic, 61575 American Lane, Bend, OR 97702. Call(541) 383-3833. 04/05

Receptionist and technician for a MA clinic in Bendnear Sisters has two openings. Previous experience isrequired. Interviewing for FT and PT positions. ContactCraig, Broken Top Veterinary Clinic, at (541) 389-0391. 04/05

Come to beautiful Central Oregon. We are searching foran experienced FT technician to join our busy four-doctor practice. Our clinic offers a wide variety of medicaland surgical services for small animals, exotics, and pocket

pets. We DO NOT perform declaws, ear crops,convenience euthanasias, etc. Competitive salary andbenefits. No on-call or holiday work. Some weekends.Consideration for an unlicensed assistant with excellentskills and abilities. A sense of humor is a must. Sendresume to: Deschutes Veterinary Clinic, 25 NW Olney,Bend, OR 97701. Call (541) 382-2481. 04/05

Position Wanted

Veterinary office manager/CVT with 20 plus years ofexperience in Portland area is seeking long termemployment. I am reliable, committed to quality careand excellent customer service. Call (503) 579-3300 orsend an e-mail to cleahbarnett@yahoo.com. 04/05

For Sale or LeaseIdexx QBC Vet Autoreader. Plus QBC centrifuge. PlusCanon printer. Includes instructions, tray, etc., and somesupplies. Runs without any problems. Price: $5,900.Call (503) 738-8846.

A 1999 Ford Ranger 4 x4 pickup with a PortaVet Box.Has 76,400 miles and includes air conditioning. Price:$8,500. Call (541) 548-1048.

A 6’ bowie insert for a small truck. Priced at $2,000.Call Justin at (503) 630-4458.

An 8’ Porta Vet Express equine unit. Reconditioned 1997.Excellent condition: $3,750. Call (541) 332-2039.

Two Suburba kennels. 5’ x 3’ fiberglass and aluminum,self-plumbed: $200 each - available in August. TwoBurton Halogen spot lamps; one floor model for $150and one wall hung for $75. Also stainless steel X-rayprocessing tank, free to good home. Call Dr. Vandaveerat (541) 382-7671.

Dynamic Imaging Concept MLV Ultrasound. Withaccessories. A 7.5 MHZ rectal/tendon probe. Boughtnew February 1999 and has been stored on shelf eversince. Used less than 10 times. New cost more than$10,000. Will sacrifice for $4,000 or best offer. Call(541) 689-0205.

Mobile practice. A 1996 Dodgen 24-ft. mobile clinicwith ISO nesthetic set-up, portable X-ray, dark room,dental unit, cages, and plenty of cabinet space. All for$30,000. Call (541) 660-1907 or send an e-mail tolancer5@earthlink.net for more information.

Practice for sale: Two-doctor, SA practice located inPortland. Gross over $750,000, with practice housed ina spacious free-standing building. Contact Tom Lynchat Veterinary Healthcare Consultants at (978) 372-7600or at tom@vhc.biz.

Veterinary hospital: SA and LA facilities, 3,120 sq. ft.Excellent location on major highway in Lakeview, OR.Good schools, doctors, and hospital. Hunting, fishing,and skiing. Price: $185,000. Contact Dr. William Barryat (541) 947-3212.

Mendocino County SA clinic for sale. Established in1972. I have owned it since 1978. Was originally a MApractice but has been a SA practice since I bought it.There is potential for a livestock veterinarian in the area.Practice is grossing $353,000 with a 23% net. Room to

improve the practice. Price: $250,000 with $50,000down, owner will carry the balance. No rent or paymentsfor the first six months. Call Dr. Grasse at (707) 459-5236 or send a fax to (707) 459-9048.

Coastal practice for sale. For information review ourweb site at www.orcoast.com/vet.

Portland. New listing in the southwest area. Free-standingbuilding with extra lot for expansion. Grossing $282k.Real estate is appraised at $292k. Practice price is pending.Contact Simmons & Associates at (800) 846-0062.

Washington. Most desirable part of Spokane. Compact,efficient, grossing $581k. Lease real estate with option tobuy. Price for practice: $545k. Contact Simmons &Associates at (800) 846-0062.

Washington. In high growth area of Issaquah. Twolocations. Includes four bedroom apartment. Grossing$392k. Lease or buy real estate. Price for practice: $240k.Contact Simmons & Associates at (800) 846-0062.

Portland. North Portland SA practice with real estate.Currently grossing more than $300,000. Sellermotivated to close by summer. Contact Dr. MichaelKovsky (IBA) at (800) 218-4422.

Wilsonville. SA practice in shopping center. Currentlygrossing more than $500,000. Contact Dr. MichaelKovsky (IBA), at (800) 218-4422.

Gresham. SA practice with real estate. Currently grossingmore than $300,000. Contact Dr. Michael Kovsky (IBA)at (800) 218-4422.

Washington. SA practice with real estate. Is a AAHAhospital that currently is grossing more than $800,000.Associate will stay. Contact Dr. Michael Kovsky (IBA) at(800) 218-4422.

Washington. EQ and SA practice with real estate. Has1,500 sq. ft. EQ surgery and recovery area within a5,000 sq. ft. hospital. Currently grossing more than$950,000. Excellent husband and wife opportunity.Contact Dr. Michael Kovsky (IBA) at (800) 218-4422.

Washington. SA practice with real estate. In small town.Currently grossing more than $300,000. Contact Dr.Michael Kovsky (IBA) at (800) 218-4422.

Services

Counseling services to help with issues of petbereavement, helping to relieve profession stress andburnout, as well as personal and working relationships.Contact Tere Barkley, M.S., National Certified Counselor,(503) 365-8111.

Business and legal. By the job or the hour. Practicevaluations, profit enhancement, employment contracts,non-compete agreements, buy-sells, practice start ups,representation before the licensing board. Also practicebrokerage service for a flat fee. Contact K.R. Salzsieder,DVM, JD, at (360) 577-8115. Or send an e-mail tokrsalzsi@cetnet.net.

15

Legislative Status ReportThe following is legislation the Association is

tracking, with a synopsis of each bill and theOVMA’s position.

OVMA supports SB 193The legislation exempts veterinarians

(graduates of foreign veterinary colleges and whohave passed the ECFVG program) licensed bythe Veterinary Medical Examining Board fromregulation by the Oregon Student AssistanceCommission.

SB 193 has been approved by the Senate andhas been referred to the Education Committee inthe House.

OVMA supports SB 317This would prohibit the carrying of animals

in open truck beds, unless either secured by acontainer (kennel) or cross-tethered. There aresome exceptions for farming purposes.

The bill was requested by Sen. Kurt Schraderon behalf of the OVMA and the OregonHumane Society. It has had one public hearing,but has not moved since. Also, the SenatePresident, Peter Courtney, has asked the AttorneyGeneral for a letter interpreting the current law.

OVMA supports SB 318This bill enables the Veterinary Medical

Examining Board to initiate procedures todiscipline a licensed veterinarian who may beunable to safely practice medicine because ofmental or physical condition. It also grants theVMEB the authority to require an examinationby a “professional” before disciplinary actions aretaken.

The bill has been approved by the Senate andis waiting for committee assignment in the House.

OVMA opposes SB 556The legislation requires veterinarians to provide

local agencies, i.e., animal control, with rabiesvaccination records, while also limiting disclosureof such information. This information could thenbe used to cross-check for licensing purposes togenerate revenue for counties.

The board believes that as well intentioned asthe bill might be, it would place veterinarians inthe unenviable and uncomfortable position ofbreaching patient confidentiality. The Associationalso presented testimony at a recent hearing,explaining that veterinarians do work with localhealth departments and the public healthveterinarian to ensure that the rabies vaccinationstatus of a dog is readily available when needed.

A strong majority of states in the U.S. do notrequire that veterinarians turn over records of rabiesvaccinations to local agencies, although twocounties in Oregon -- Klamath and Lane --mandate this.

In addition to a hearing on SB 556, thecommittee held a work session to discuss the merits.

OVMA supports SB 641The bill creates the crime of possessing dog

fighting paraphernalia. Having the ability toidentify specific tools of fighting dogs gives lawenforcement another opportunity to address thisserious issue.

The OVMA testified in support of SB 641,but has asked that the committee closely look atlanguage about unprescribed veterinary medicine.The Association want to ensure that veterinarianswho might happen to treat a fighting dog areprotected.

The committee has held one hearing on thebill and currently is reviewing it further in a worksession.

OVMA supports SB 844 (amended version)The bill attempts to protect both the

community from perceived dangerous dogs andto provide serious consequences for irresponsiblepet ownership.

The original version included breed-specificlanguage, which was opposed by all groups thatpresented public testimony, including theOVMA. This language has since been removedfrom the bill, and the committee is considering awide variety of amendments in a work session.

The Association’s legislative team is reviewingfurther amendments to the bill.

OVMA supports SB 861Creates the crime of force-feeding birds (for

foie gras production), with a maximum $1,000fine and establishes a crime of trading in force-fedbird products with a maximum penalty of$1,000.

The OVMA supports good animal husbandrypractices in agricultural food production, but findsthe force-feeding of birds to be cruel andinhumane.

The bill has had one hearing, with a worksession scheduled in mid-April.

OVMA opposes HB 2283The bill prohibits a state agency from requiring

a licensee to undergo a mental or physicalexamination unless the agency adopts certain rules

pertaining to examinations. It also prohibits anagency from suspending a license without ahearing, based solely on the refusal of a licensee tosubmit to a mental or physical examination by aprofessional.

HB 2283 would countermand SB 318, whichthe OVMA supports. The bill has had one publichearing and is expected to have a work session.

OVMA supports HB 2485This is an omnibus methamphetamine bill. A

similar bill in the Senate - SB 912 - also addressesdrug precursors in Oregon, and the OVMAtestified in support of amendments that exemptveterinarians and their clients from some of theonerous provisions of the statute.

There are a handful of bills, both in the Houseand Senate, that focus on methamphetamines.They are expected to be rolled into one piece oflegislation, after hearings on them have been held.

The Association wants to ensure that DVMscan prescribe products such as pseudoephedrineand phenylpropanalomine without unduerestriction and hardship on practices and theirclients.

OVMA is watching HB 2813The bill reclassifies certain crimes against

animals to double the fine when the crime iscommitted as part of a criminal activity thatinvolves eight or more animals. It also reclassifiespenalties of animal abuse in the first degree, animalneglect in the first degree, and sexual assault of ananimal.

The OVMA board has not yet had sufficienttime to review the bill, which was referred to theJudiciary Committee, with a subsequent referralto Ways and Means.

OVMA supports HB 3046The bill amends current law to restrict future

possession and breeding of exotic animals. Itexempts certain institutions, organizations andfacilities from the law, assigns animal controlagencies to administer and enforce the regulations,and expands the “exotic animal” definition toinclude wild cats, wolves, bears, non-humanprimates, crocodiles, alligators, caimans, andvenomous snakes.

16

President’s MessageMemberBenefits

▼I want to thank Dr. Tom Keck for serving as our

president and for his leadership and service to theassociation. I also want to say that often times brevityis bliss, and this is one of those times.

It truly is an honor to serve as president of ourorganization. In addition to thanking Dr. Keck, Iwould like to thank our other past presidents andboard members who have made the OVMA strongand who have helped to shape our CE meeting intoone of the best courses in the country. While somestate association meetings are struggling, our’s isthriving. Our overall attendance at this year’sconference is more than 600.

An area where our Association is fortunate to havestrong leadership is legislative affairs. We have two statesenators who are veterinarians -- Dr. Kurt Schrader ofCanby and Dr. Doug Whitsett of Klamath Falls -- andwe also have a talented group who work as ourlegislative advocates -- Dave Barrows and Marcia Keith.Several other OVMA members and board membersare also active with our legislative interests. Two ofthese individuals, Dr. Keck and Dr. Steve Brown,continue to support our endeavors in Salem. Aspresident, I am grateful to have these people lookingout for the interests of our organization and profession.

While you may not be a state senator, each of youhave skills and interest that can help make ourorganization and profession stronger. I encourage youto become active with the Association, and one wayyou can do this is to let us know where your interestslie. If you have an opinion or an issue of interest, let usknow. Write us, call us, send an e-mail, but becomeinvolved. A good example of members who recentlybecame engaged with the organization helped toestablish a position statement on owner vs. guardian.This ad hoc committee was assigned to tackle thesubject, they worked diligently to draft a recommendedposition, and the OVMA Board of Directors adoptedit in February.

Our Association is also a team-oriented organization.Several years ago the board was expanded to includerepresentation from allied industry, technicians, andpractice managers. These individuals have beenespecially valuable with their input to the board andhave helped to shape our decision making. Currently,we have an opening for the technician representative.If you know of an individual who might have aninterest in serving in this capacity, please have thatperson contact our executive director, Glenn Kolb.

Another area where I believe our organization andprofession can become more involved with is withallied groups -- those organizations that often sharesimilar interests. We often assume these groups aredoing something the way we intended, and then weend up clashing with them because we find out that

while the intentions are the same or similar as our’s, wehave made wrong assumptions and the course of actionsare different or not what we expected.

The groups I am talking of are the animal controland humane shelters in Oregon. Shelters very oftenhave similar goals -- that of helping animals. Eventhough shelters and veterinarians may not always agreeon issues, by enhancing our communication with eachother and by working more closely together we canattain a better understanding of each other. To this endI am proposing a veterinary-shelter summit later thisyear where we can sit down at the table and discusshow we can increase our communication and with theobjective of our collaborating more closely with eachother.

In closing, I again want to thank Dr. Keck, ourcurrent and past officers and board members, andespecially Glenn and our other OVMA staff, JennyPage and Raina Dey. These people have made ourorganization what it is today. I hope to continue thissuccess during the next fiscal year.

With that, we are adjourned.

Doug McInnis, DVMPresident

Note: Dr. McInnis is the 81st president of the OregonVeterinary Medical Association. A 1987 graduate of theveterinary program at Oregon State University, he ownsWest Ridge Animal Clinic, a companion animal practice,in Klamath Falls.

Bankcard Processing: Putmore money into yourpockets by enrolling in theOVMA’s program through theRetail Council Services Corp.Get a free cost comparison ofyour current program withours.

Collections: The sooner youstart to collect on your out-standing receivables, the moremoney you’ll recover. I.C.System, the OVMA’s endorsedprovider, has more than 60years of experience and hasadopted new options forpractices. I.C. System hascollected more than $2 millionfor OVMA members.

Insurance: Through FoundersFinancial Group, you can findan array of coverage to meetyour varied needs. And checkout other OVMA-endorsedservices as well.

Workers’ Compensation: TheOVMA’s group program withSAIF Corp. continues to paydividends for qualifyingpractices. The annual discounttraditionally has been aboveand beyond already-controlledpremiums.

To learn more about any ofthese benefits of membershipin the OVMA, contact us at(800) 235-3502.