MO State Vet addresses key ag issues
January 20, 2010 by Julie Harker
Filed under Livestock, News
Missouri State Veterinarian Dr. Taylor Woods weighed in on some key issues affecting agriculture during Senate Seminars last week. Woods was asked by a legislator how the HSUS proposed ballot initiative to crack down on puppy breeders would affect the state’s dog breeders. According to the Missouri Farm Bureau, Woods answered by saying it would put Missouri dog breeders out of business. Missouri Farm Bureau expressed concerns that with the HSUS contribution of $450,000 toward the ballot initiative – and a $30,000 contribution by the Doris Day Animal League the week before – the animal-rights group would use its resources to target Missouri livestock producers next. Missouri Farm Bureau noted the HSUS track record of doing that in other states.
In addition, Dr. Woods discussed the crucial need for monitoring and surveillance of animal diseases such as tuberculosis, tick-borne diseases, and blue tongue – expressing concerns over the decreased resources to do that. Woods says it’s just him and a state epidemiologist in the office of the State Veterinarian to address these increasing animal disease threats.
The Seminars were hosted by Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields of St. Joseph, Missouri.
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Another powerful reason for ALL states to include not only their Agriculture Departments, but also their state and local (if any) Veterinary Associations to join your coalitions against the Animal Extremists.
If the Extremists get their way, it will put Veterinarians out of business or at least seek to intrude on how they practice and what they’re allowed to do. Saw it happen here in Kentucky where a county ordinance attempted to not only have the authority to inspect the premises of Vets who board animals, but also force all Vets in the county to turn over their client’s records to the shelter on demand; now we have a state level HIPPA law for Vets which prohibits that.