Complexitys of Animal Law
Texas veterinarians made national news after they were taken to court by four lay dentists and two horse owners in a lawsuit over whether you must be a licensed vet to float a horses teeth. I’m Susan Allen when Open Range returns a look at the complex subject of animal law. The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners were taken to court by individuals who believed that a veterinary license isn’t necessary for routine dental work on a horses. Each state is unique when it comes to livestock regulations and veterinary practices in fact last week I shared how some states no longer even have brand inspectors. In Oregon groups are advocating having horses reclassified as companion animals, not livestock but that would be extremely confusing in Kentucky where the definition of cattle legally means; horse, mule, ass, cow, ox sheep hog or goat of any age or sex .Whew it does get puzzling. A starting point to understand what’s regulated for your type of livestock, be it pigs, chickens or ponies is the American Veterinary Medical Association. On their website they compile a summary of Veterinary practice acts in each state. A good website for animal law is the Animal legal and Historical Center, part of Michigan State University’s College of Law and it could help you figure out who gets Trigger in a divorce as they keep a good library of cases and animal law issues. I’m not surprised Oregon is one of the top five states with the strictest animal protection laws but I am that Idaho is listed as one of the worst.
