Regulatory

Carson City, Nev. - Nevada Sen. Valerie Weiner is asking that pet owners be allowed to donate unused medications to animals in need, much like human-health facilities do.

Oklahoma City, Okla. - New rules that passed last August to allow lay persons in Oklahoma to float horses' teeth have been reversed by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

Denver, Colo. - Anyone convicted of animal abuse in Colorado will now also have to reimburse the animal's owner for any costs of care of replacement.

Little Rock, Ark. - Horseshoeing, training, the selling of equine medications and certain equine reproductive procedures are no longer a part of the veterinary practice act in Arkansas.

London - The British Veterinary Medical Association and the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe were effective in thwarting a move by members of the European Paliament to limit veterinarians' access to sell veterinary medicines directly to farmers and other animal owners.

Honolulu, Hawaii - A bill originally aimed at preventing animal abuse has turned into something entirely different and now suggests that Hawaii stop the sale of intact cats or dogs.

New York -- Consumer groups filed a lawsuit against FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine for allowing low-dose antibiotics to be used as growth promoters in livestock.

Paris -- Veterinarians with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) report that the cattle disease rinderpest has been completely eradicated from live animal populations.

Salmonella contamination forced a Boss Pet Products, Inc. recall on pig ear treats for dogs.

Jefferson City, Mo. -- A new law has been signed by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon that replaces the highly controversial Proposition B, last fall's ballot issue aimed at ending puppy mills.

Jackson, Miss. - A new law, approved by the governor March 8, will allows chiropractors to treat animal patients on referral from a veterinarian.

Little Rock, Ark. - Arkansas lawmakers are considering multiple exemptions that would officially allow non-DVMs to perform procedures like castration and dehorning of agricultural animals.

Lincoln, Neb. - If passed, non-veterinarians would be able to perform limited reproductive services in Nebraska, according to new legislation.

Harrisburg, Pa. - Veterinarians in Pennsylvania may be required to provide pet owners better documentation about medication usage, dosages and contraindications if drugs are administered outside the veterinary hospital.

Denver - Veterinarians who help a colleague provide a needed medication to a patient will be exempt from any disciplinary action if a new Senate bill is passed.

Hartford, Conn. - Connecticut lawmakers are eyeing legislation that would compensate owners of animals that are killed or maimed by other dogs.

Tallahassee, Fla. - Florida lawmakers want the state's Board of Veterinary Medicine to set minimum standards for vaccination clinics.

Topeka, Kan. - It was designed to protect veterinary/client confidentiality, but pushback from the state veterinary board may table a state bill's chances to move forward this year.

Honolulu - Lawmakers in Hawaii are considering new continuing education (CE) requirements for veterinarians.

Rockville, Md. -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently gave the green light to an iron dextran injectable formulation to alleviate a veterinary product shortage.

Schaumburg, Ill. -- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) created new educational resources to help veterinarians deal with waste disposal.

Washington -- An effort to close Internet loopholes for puppy sales is underway at the federal level. New bills would require breeders selling more than 50 dogs per year to be licensed and undergo veterinary inspections.

Nashville, Tenn. -- A fatal car accident involving a woman and her dog triggered new legislation in Tennessee aimed at keeping pets in the back seats of vehicles.

Phoenix, Ariz. - Kennel operators will be required to microchip all dogs over the age of 3 months in order to get a kennel permit in Arizona if new legislation is passed.

New Westminster, B.C. - More than a year after his license was revoked by the British Columbia Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Hakam Bhullar can practice again, according to a ruling by the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

Augusta, Maine - The Maine Legislature is considering a new bill that would require veterinarians to honor the prescriptions of others.

Phoenix, Ariz. - If you treat without establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), Arizona lawmakers may define it as "unprofessional conduct."

It took almost two years for Florida regulators to clear the name of a veterinarian wrongly accused of issuing bogus health certificates to an unscrupulous dog breeder.