[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Letter From Ron Favro President of CVMA to my Vet
- From: "Ginger Cleary" <cleary1414@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Showgsd-L@Freelists. Org" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2007 18:23:03 -0400
Forwarded with permission......
Ginger Cleary,Rome, GA ww.rihadin.com <http://www.rihadin.com>
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo
the fatigue of supporting it. ~Thomas Paine
Member GSDCA
Member Sawnee Mtn Kennel Club
GA Director Responsible Dog Owners of the Eastern States.
-----Original Message-----
My Vet faxed me this letter that he received from Ron Favro DVM President
of the California Veterinarians Medical Association. I asked him if he
agreed with the letter & he said "NO" and I asked him if I could share
this letter and he said "YES".
I'm pretty sure this letter went out to All Veterinarians in the state of
California that are members of the CVMA. Don't you agree that the CVMA (
Ron Favro) needs to hear the voice of California and how they are greatly
dissappointed in the fact that the President of CVMA is sending his
propaganda to California Veterinarians and is in favor of passing AB
1634.
(I tried to send the original letter in an attachment but I got an error
message saying the attachment was to big .If you want the original letter
sent privately let me know
Barb
CALIFORNIA VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
CVMA
1400 RiverPark Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento. CA 951115,0599
staff@xxxxxxxx
www.cvma.net
May 18, 2007
Dr. Jay A. Griffiths
7751 Sunset Avenue
Fair Oaks, CA 95628
Dear Dr. Griffiths:
The CVMA has received many letters and e-mails of concern regarding Assembly
Bill
1634, the "California Healthy Pets Act" or the mandatory spay/neuter bill.
The CVMA's
involvement with this legislation is a story you all should hear. Let me
explain the history
and the reasons behind our support of this ground-breaking bill.
We are all familiar with the problem of pet overpopulation.We are all on the
same page
with respect to recognition of the tragic consequences. Nearly one million
animals enter
California shelters every year at an average annual cost of $275 million.
More than 51%
of these animals are killed.
Many of us have worked hard over the past twenty years from public education
to our
support Of free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries to benefit low-income pet
owners.
Some shelters have experienced a decrease in euthanasias in the last ten
years due to the
extraordinary efforts of shelter volunteers trying to place animals in
homes.
However, shelters continue to expand throughout California to house
abandoned animals.
Because of the value of the human-animal bond, about half of all abandoned
animals do find
a home.
But a half million unlucky dogs and cats -many of which are healthy puppies
and kittens get
destroyed.So the question has always been, how do we get from where we are
to a time in the
future when no healthy animal faces lethal injection simply
because it is unwanted? Assembly bill 1634 is a step in the right
direction.
The CVMA is a leader when it comes to animal welfare. We developed the
"Eight Principles of Animal Care and Use"
several years ago and they have been a model for many veterinary medical
associations throughout the nation.
We are constantly on the forefront of issues facing the profession,
including animal welfare simply because the
state we live in is the most progressive state in the United States.
Local spay/neuter ordinances have been passing in cities and counties
throughout California for the
last several years. Members have contacted the CVMA to help work out
language for these ordinances. It thus became
a priority in the Board's vision planning process to address this issue. We
set model mandatory spay/neuter language up
as a reference committee discussion topic at the House of Delegates meeting
last November to further discuss it.
The House of Delegates then passed a resolution asking the Board to develop
mandatory
spay/neuter model language for statewide legislation.
In January. we were asked by the authors of AB-1634 for our input on
statewide
spay/neuter legislation.We could become part of writing this legislation or
watch it move
along without veterinary input. The Board of Governors discussed it
thoroughly at their
January meeting and continued the discussion through our list serve. The
debate was
lively and the issue was dissected from all angles. Would veterinarians
actually oppose
an effort to stop the killing of animals in shelters? Do we want to see more
shelters built
throughout the state to house dogs and cats that are abandoned at exorbitant
costs to
the taxpayers? Isn't it better to be part of the solution? The Board voted
to co-sponsor
AB-1634. We felt it was essential that we be "at the table" for such a
serious issue. vital
to the interests of veterinarians and pets in this state.
The CVMA voiced many concerns as the legislation was written. Why is there
no
possibility for an "intact permit" to be purchased by someone who has
objections to the
procedure being done on their animal? Isn't this a violation of civil
liberties? How will it
be enforced? Why can't the requirement be for having the procedures done at
a later
time, say six months? What about hybrid vigor? Is this even workable for
cats? Will
this be the demise of the "mutt"? The majority of the opposition to this
bill is the
American Kennel Club and breeder community. The sponsors have asked them to
help
craft amendments to this bill that would address their issues but they have
refused.
They continue to flatly oppose this legislation rather than find solutions
agreeable to all.
To get something of this magnitude approved and passed through the
legislature
requires sound financial and political backing. AS 1634 has that kind of
support. It may
not be perfect, but it is a reasonable effort that has the potential to
succeed. Nothing this
big comes without controversy. Let me address some of the concerns that
members have
communicated and that the CVMA has assured in the bill.
. First, there is a 75 day waiver that an owner may obtain from a
veterinarian when
an animal is four months of age. CVMA will have a letter on its website that
can
be downloadedto facilitate the process. Just fill in the animal's name and
sign it.
That pet will have until six and one-half months of age to be spayed or
neutered
with no permit required.
. A veterinarian can sign an exemption if the pet is old, sick or otherwise
compromised and the veterinarian believes the animal should not undergo the
surgical procedure.
. Veterinarians will not be a part of enforcement. No search of your records
will
be forthcoming. Enforcement will be handled locally by animal control,
primarily
complaint driven. Local enforcement is critical. It allows each community to
develop the program best suited to the community's needs.
. The CVMA made sure that all spays and neuters must be performed by
California licensed Veterinarians.
. Police dogs, guide dogs for the blind, and service dogs can obtain
exemptions at
no cost.
Two other points need to be mentioned. Local jurisdictions are developing
their own
ordinances at an increasing rate. The CVMA believes it is better to have a
statewide law
that more uniformly addresses the problem. It is more effective to get this
all tied
together In one action that puts everyone on a level playing field. The CVMA
will have
greater input statewide as compared to this being done piecemeal across the
state.
Listening to the stories of the shelter directors was a sobering experience.
This bill
would help them to begin to stem the tide of abandonment at their
facilities. They know
who the local offenders are, bringing in litter after litter to dump at the
shelter. This
legislation would give them "a tool in their toolboxes. to start addressing
the repeat offenders.
AS 1634 may not be useful for every local jurisdiction in the state of
California. It may
not solve the overpopulation crisis entirely on its own. It is a
significant. first step in the
right direction. We are working on further amendments to the bill that
address your
concerns and will continue to be part of the process.
Whether you're a humane veterinarian concerned about the senseless
destruction of a
half-million innocent animals a year or an overburdened taxpayer
contributing to the
$275 million per year spent on healthy animals abandoned at local shel1ers,
AB 1634
can only help. Let's move forward with resolve and determination to try
something new:
A bold and different approach to the animal overpopulation problem.
CVMA does represent each and every one of you. We need to be leaders on this
vital
issue of animal welfare. As always. we welcome your questions, comments and
suggestions. Discussion of this legislation is healthy for the profession.
Sincerely,
Ron Faoro, DVM
President
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