Hi All,

This came in from a friend in Minnesota.

You should consider the part of this email that indicates that even thought the bill got passed, the vets in Florida, are still going to squash it by getting the Governor to block the bill.

What they did in Florida is a good first step but we need to be a lot more clear on this and, I think, work along the lines of setting up an organization other than the AEF to provide for the interests of animal owners. I doubt that the AEF has any information on it other than what they got from Greg Andrews DVM. As most of you know he has been presenting to them at meetings and telling them that everything will be fine and that nothing will change when the bill gets past. The AEF has not asked for any other input from anyone on this - they will bend over for anything the AVMA wants. This is a very dangerous situation because it can be played to the government that the AEF represents the horse industry which it certainly does not.

I had an interview with the CBC on Friday for an afternoon show “Wild Rose Country” so that may or may not turn out well. It is always hard to know with a phone interview.

Best regards,

Todd Williams
Horse Dentist

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"The Florida Alliance for Animal Owners Rights has been successful in
getting through the Florida Legislature a bill changing the language
of the Florida Veterinary Practice Act to exclude routine farrier
service, hand-floating of the teeth and "animal husbandry" from the
definition of the practice of veterinary medicine.

Although not "ideal," HB 641 represents a compromise between animal-
owners/care-takers wanting the freedom to choose non-veterinary
healthcare practitioners for their herd/flock animals (i.e., horses,
ponies, mules, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, turkeys and chickens)
and the Florida Veterinary Medical Association.  Although FAAOR was
able to include farriery and dentistry by name, it is hoped that the
wording "animal husbandry" will provide some protection for the many
other non-veterinary healthcare practitioners who provide many
valuable services to our animals.  Any wording that included these
other practices by name was vehemently opposed by the vets and proved
to be a deal-killer, hence the compromise of the wording "animal
husbandry."

The bill is now on its way to Governor Jeb Bush's office for
signing.  FAAOR has been told that the vets are quietly lobbying
Governor Bush to veto the bill, so a letter writing campaign by
animal owners is now needed to show the governor that this bill has a
lot of support among animal owners in Florida."