PA horse owners rights being compromised

[Lietzke1@aol.com]

It is my understanding after reading House Bill 1418 that my consumer rights 
are being threatened. The definition of veterinary medicine will determine 
what can be done to your horse and by whom. This bill proposes changes to the 
current PA Veterinary act. It was sponsored by Rep. Hershey and  the PA 
Veterinary Association. It was referred to the committee of professional 
licensure on May 4th, 1999. It says" the practice of veterinary medicine 
shall include the diagnosis, trearment, correction, change, relief or 
prevention of animal disease, deformity, defect, injury or other physical or 
mental condition, including the prescription or administration of a drug, 
medicine, biologic, medical device, application, anesthetic or other imaging, 
theraputic or diagnostic technique or nutritional substance or technique on, 
for, or to any animal including, but not limited to, acpuncture and 
acupressure, dentistry, diagnostic veterinary pathology, homopathic, 
chiropractic, and all other alternative medicine treatments and procedures, 
physical or massage therapy, including cosmetic surgery." This is only part 
of the bill but it seems to be directly related to us. We would no longer be 
able to give our own yearly shots which we can do now except for Rabies, 
couldn't have our horse dentist do our horses, couldn't have our massage 
therapist or chiropracter work on our horse, couldn't have our blacksmith do 
corrective shoeing without a prescription from the vet, could not feed our 
horse any nutritional supplements without a vet's prescripition. The costs to 
consumers will be very high if a vet has to be used or consulted for all of 
these services. Blacksmiths, massage therapists, horse dentists and 
chiropracters have taken special courses to learn and conentrate only on 
their specific field. My vet is great but can't do everything, I don't 
believe vets in school in PA are given any instruction in horse dentistry. My 
freedom of choice is being taken away. I can take my children for holostic 
health care but not my animals to whom I choose if this bill goes 
through.There are many veterinarians opposed to the PVMA legistation but may 
be fearful to stand up to their association for profession and personal 
retribution. If you feel your right of choice is being threatened please 
write a letter to Representative Mario  J Civera Jr., Professional Licensure 
Committee, Chair, P.O. Box 202020; Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020 Please write! It 
will make a difference.
Jane Lietzke


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