Guiding Principles to Ensure Access to Veterinary Care
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Read an op-ed on this issue by HSVMA board member, Dr. Michael Blackwell» |
The Humane Society of the United States and HSVMA believe there is a place for both for-profit and non-profit veterinary services, and that we are stronger when we all work together towards the common goal of ensuring every pet in the United States has access to veterinary care, regardless of circumstances. We encourage every veterinary professional, whether operating in a for-profit practice, a shelter, a non-profit clinic, or any other setting, to read our Guiding Principles to Ensure Access to Veterinary Care below and sign on to show your support»
Guiding Principles to Ensure Access to Veterinary Care
More than 65% of American households have pets, the vast majority of which are considered part of the family. Veterinary care is certainly considered a necessity to properly keep a pet, and most Americans are eager to acquire these services for the pets they love. Unfortunately, veterinary care has become out of reach for many. An estimated 23 million pets live in poverty along with their human families, lacking access to veterinary care, proper nutrition and basic supplies. Even among households living above the poverty line, veterinary care can be out of reach.
In March of 2015, a diverse group of veterinarians representing private practices, non-profit clinics and animal welfare organizations came together to discuss how the veterinary profession can ensure humane care and treatment of all pets The group, listed below, agreed on the following basic principles to help guide all stakeholders:
- All animals deserve veterinary care;
- Many pets in the United States are not getting the veterinary care they need;
- Veterinarians should have the freedom to provide a spectrum of care for their patients, meaning:
- Veterinarians should have the flexibility to offer proven, effective treatments for their patients, with the understanding that those options may not involve use of the most expensive, technologically advanced or state-of the art equipment or techniques; and
- Veterinarians should be able to consider pets’ individual circumstances and their owners’ living situations when determining proper courses of treatment.
- Veterinarians should have the legal protection and professional approval to provide appropriate care to underserved animals, whether that is in for-profit or non- profit practice settings.
- Non-profit veterinary practices should not be required to limit the scope of services they provide and/or perform means testing or other income screening of clients simply because of their non-profit status.
We urge every veterinary professional to join us in supporting these principles.
Individual Endorsers: Veterinarians
Kris Abbey, DVM
Englewood, Colo.
Kristie Adrian, DVM
San Jose, Calif.
Tina Aiken, DVM, DR. MED. VET.
Ancramdale, N.Y.
Chumkee Aziz, DVM
Davis, Calif.
Joy Baird, DVM
Sugar Land, Texas
Margaret Baird, BVMS
Woodbridge, Va.
Lisa Banks, DVM
Powhatan, Va.
Allan Barton, DVM
Georgetown, Texas
Patricia Bigwood, DVM
Detroit, Mich.
Michael Blackwell, DVM, MPH
Knoxville, Tenn.
Michelle Bouliane, DVM
Warwick, R.I.
Cierra Buer, DVM
Powell Butte, Ore.
Susan Burcham, DVM
Clinton Township, Mich.
Richie Burdeaux, DVM
State College, Pa.
Leslie Brennan, DVM
Houston, Texas
Joanne Bryla, DVM
China Grove, N.C.
Dan Campbell, DVM
Des Moines, Iowa
Staci Cannon, DVM, MPH, DACVPM
Nashville, Tenn.
Peter Campellone, DVM
Chepachet, R.I.
David Clark, DVM
Warwick, R.I.
Virginia Clarke, DVM
Virginia Clarke, Vt.
Laura Cochrane, DVM
Portland , Ore.
Lena Detar, DVM
Portland , Ore.
Rick Dill, DVM
Belle Fourche, S.D.
Stephen Dubin, VMD
Springfield, Pa.
Stacy Dudek, DVM
Woodbury, Conn.
Stephanie Eddy, DVM
Houston, Texas
Ashley Eisenback, DVM
Johnson City, Tenn.
Ann Eliopulos, DVM
San Diego, Calif.
Mary-Elizabeth Ellard, MS, DVM
Atlanta, Ga.
Elizabeth Emmel, DVM
Wheaton, Ill.
Courtney Forbes, DVM
Houston, Texas
Sarah Frei, DVM
St. Louis, Mo.
Rosangela Gebara, VM, MSC
São Paolo, Brazil
Eileen Gillen, DVM
Santa Ynez, Calif.
Carol Gillis, DVM, PHD, DACVSMR
Aiken, S.C.
Madeline Graham, DVM
Los Angeles, Calif.
Brooke Groskopf, DVM, CVA
Philadelphia, Pa.
Laurita Halbert, VMD
South Barrington, Ill.
Mary Hannah, DVM
Deerfield, Ill.
Alicia Hatch, DVM
Hattiesburg, Miss.
Zarah Hedge, DVM, MPH, DACVPM
Los Angeles, Calif.
Kevin Henderson, DVM
Topeka, Kan.
Chaya Hirsch, BVETMED
Houston, Texas
Barbara Hodges, DVM, MBA
Davis, Calif.
Melinda Hollingshead, DVM, PHD
Frederick, Md.
Thomas Holt, DVM
Crossville, Tenn.
Isis Johnson-Brown, DVM
Sherman, Miss.
Muhammad Kashif Ashraf, DVM
Johnston, Iowa
Lyndi Keizer, DVM
Wyoming, Mich.
Barry Kellogg, VMD
North Port, Fla.
Victoria Klibanoff, DVM
Eureka, Ill.
Teri Kidd, DVM
Rehoboth, Mass.
Kendra Kimberley, DVM
Las Vegas, Nev.
Bela Kisamov, DVM
Oakland, Calif.
Paula Kislak, DVM
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Andrew Knight, DIPECAWBM (AWSEL), DACAW, PHD, MRCVS, SFHEA University of Winchester
Winchester, U.K.
Denise Kobuszewski, DVM
Fort Worth, Texas
Susan Krebsbach, DVM
Oregon, Wis.
Kate Kuzminski, DVM
San Francisco, Calif.
Douglas Lammers, DVM
Ocala, Fla.
Lisa Last, DVM
Eugene, Ore.
Nadine Langston, DVM
Racine, Wis.
Jennifer Lynn, DVM
Pasadena, Calif.
Gillian Marsh, DVM
Rothesay, NB, Canada
Katherine McKinsey, DVM
Portland, Ore.
Susan McMillan, DVM, JD
Burlington, Vt.
Marjorie Metlitz, DVM
Mullica Hill, N.J.
Cheryl Meyers, DVM
Seattle, Wash.
Kirk Miller, DVM, DABVP (CANINE/FELINE)
Portland, Ore.
Lila Miller, DVM
New York, N.Y.
Serena Mills, DVM
Portland, Ore.
Sheri Moellinger, DVM
Hermann, Mo.
Julie Moentk, DVM
Chandler, Ariz.
Megan Mongiovi, DVM
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Carondelet Nollner, DVM
Memphis, Tenn.
Cristina Noltenius, DVM
San Antonio, Texas
Tate O'Gan, DVM
San Antonio, Texas
Victoria Olson, DVM
Westport, Mass.
Gopalan Parthasarathy, Ph.D.
Campbell, Calif.
Bharat Patel, DVM
Fairfax, Va.
Faith Perrin, DVM
Madison, N.J.
Karen Purcell, DVM
Wake Forest, N.C.
Jean Rabinowitz, DVM
Sacramento, Calif.
Gwendolen Reyes-Illg, DVM
Loveland, Colo.
Lee Roberts, DVM
Indianapolis, Ind.
Jill Roberts-Wilson, DVM
Elk Grove, Calif.
Cheryl Roth, DVM, DAAPM, DABVP (CANINE/FELINE)
Wilsonville Ore.
Ari Rozycki, DVM
San Francisco, Calif.
Lynne Sandifar, DVM
Biloxi, Miss.
Karen Schaedel, DVM
Gainesvillem Fla.
Susan Schrader, DVM
Juneau, Alaska
Monika Scott, DVM
Salinas, Calif.
Laurie Siperstein-Cook, DVM
Sacramento, Calif.
Terry Spencer, DVM MED
Gainesville, Fla.
Tara Strickler, MS, DVM
Philadelphia, Pa.
R Stuntebeck, DVM
Madison, Wis.
Alexandra Swanson, DVM
Monrovia, Calif.
Judit Szamos, DVM
Carlsbad, Calif.
Debra Teachout, DVM
Lemont, Ill.
Sherri Therrien, DVM
Belchertown, Mass.
Patricia Tithof, DVM
White, Ga.
Joseph Valese, DVM
Mount Pocono, Pa.
Brigit Villines, DVM
Decatur, Ga.
Judi Vogt, DVM
Charlotte, N.C.
Christine Wilford, DVM
Bellevue, Wash.
Deborah Wysocki, DVM
Houston, Texas
Pamela Zaber, DVM
Niskayuna, N.Y.
Amber Ziemba, DVM
Avon Lake, Ohio
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Individual Endorsers: Veterinary Technicians
Tina Baker
Tucson, Ariz.
Karina Benish, RVT
Poway, Calif.
Michelle Canzano, LVT
Kent, Wash.
Sarah Jones, RVT
Brecksville, Ohio
Jeanne Mclelland, LVT, PA-C
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Mary Miceli, LVT
Lake Orion , Mich.
Jehn Mikalacki-Sublett, RVT
Oakland, Calif.
Duane Moellinger, RVT
Hermann, Mo.
Autumn Nidey, RVT
Harmony, Ind.
Chris Pope, CVT
Trego, Mont.
Neeley Searl, RVT
San Diego, Calif.
Lisa Soldato, CVT
Easthampton, Mass.
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Individual Endorsers: Veterinary Assistants
Jill Burnip
Houston, Texas
Emily Martin
Lebanon, Ind.
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Endorsers: Organizations
4 R Friends
Jean Rabinowitz, DVM
Sacramento, Calif.
Animal Farm Foundation
Bangall, N.Y.
Animal Rescue League of Iowa
Dan Campbell, DVM
Des Moines, Iowa
Dog and Cat Depot
Lisa Twark, DVM
Rogersville, Tenn.
International Veterinary Outreach
Eric Eisenman, DVM
Davis & San Francisco, Calif.
Operation Catnip
Julie Levy, DVM, PHD, DACVIM
Gainesville, Fla.
People for Animals, Inc.
David Croman, VMD
Hillside, N.J.
Spay-Neuter Assistance Program, Inc.
Mary Kate Lawler, DVM
Houston, Texas
SpayToday, NeuterNow!
Angelina Piccoli, DVM
Lakewood, Colo.
Wyandot County Humane Society
Ben Heydinger, DVM & Amber Weisner, DVM
Upper Sandusky, Ohio
Black Sheep Veterinary Services
Rachel Cox, DVM
New Market, Iowa
Concord Parkway Animal Hospital
Stewart Roberts, DVM
Concord, N.C.
Dr. Schmid's Mobile Veterinary Practice
Ann-Marie Schmid, DVM
Franksville, Wis.
Fort Kent Animal Hospital
Christiana Yule, DVM
Fort Kent, Maine
Gaston Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic
Terry Kenny, Executive Director
Gastonia, N.C.
Main Street Vet
James Williams, DVM
Madison, Wis.
Myoma Animal Hospital
Cheryl Haywood, VMD
Mars, Pa.
Serenity Animal Hospital
Karen Michalski, DVM
Sterling Heights, Mich.
Willamette Animal Guild
Bernard Robe, DVM
Eugene, Ore.
Alaska SPCA
Paula Schmidt, DVM
Anchorage, Alaska
Animal Friends
Theo Nelson, DVM
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Bend Veterinary Clinic, Inc.
Byron Maas, DVM
Bend, Ore.
Humane Society of Charlotte
Sharon Bailey, DVM
Charlotte, N.C.
Mockingbird Veterinary Housecalls
Jennifer Douthwaite, DVM
Nashville, Tenn.
Palm Springs Animal Shelter
Shayda Ahkami, DVM, Director of Shelter and Veterinary Services
Palm Springs, Calif.
Rockland Holistic Veterinary Care
Sara Winikoff, DVM
Blauvelt, N.Y.
Southern Pines Animal Shelter + Spay & Neuter Clinic
Alicia Hatch, DVM
Hattiesburg , Miss.
Woods Humane Society
Susan Powell, DVM
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Carson Tahoe Veterinary Hospital
David Kowalek, BVMS
Carson City, Nev.
Crystal Mountain Animal Hospital
Charles Vandermause, DVM
Austin, Texas
THE FARMACY
John Haupert, DVM, PAS
Dubuque, Iowa
Four on the Floor Veterinary Clinic
Leslye D'Ingianni, DVM
Mays Landing, N.J.
Iowa Humane Alliance
Jennifer Doll, DVM
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
M.O.M.S. Vet Clinic
Karen Detweiler, VMD
Pipersville, Pa.
Pet Savers
Tamara Boettcher, DVM
Spokane, Wash.
The Street Dog Coalition
Jon Geller, DVM
Fort Collins, Colo.
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