The Veterinary Medical Examining Board has been receiving calls from veterinarians asking what they can do about an animal that is suffering and the client can’t be reached. The “Abandoned Animal” law in the Practice Act states that you must wait 12 days from the mailing of a certified letter to the last known address of the owner before you can take any action.
The Board suggests that you ask the owners of severely injured pets to sign a euthanasia release form upon presentation; this will cover you in case the owner cannot be reached or will not return phone calls.
If you do not have a signed release form, and if it is your opinion that the pain cannot be controlled with a reasonable amount of pain medication and the owners are unresponsive, you can use your discretion on how to proceed in the matter.
AR Veterinary Medical Examining Board
#1 Natural Resources Drive, P.O. Box 8505, Little Rock, AR 72215
PH: 501-224-2836
Fax: 501-224-1100 E-Mail: sherry.glover@aspb.ar.gov
During
the August convention in Fort Worth, Dr. Tim Woody of Fayetteville, Arkansas
was elected as Vice-President of the Southwest Veterinary Symposium for the
2007-2008 year. He has contributed his valuable time and knowledge to the SWVS
Board for the past four years. He has taken our statewide concerns and issues
to a broader audience and represented the Arkansas Association well. Dr. Woody
will begin his Presidential term at the 2008 convention is Dallas. At the August
convention, there were a total of 2,024 attendees. Arkansas is a partner state
and benefits from every Arkansas attendee. If you have never attended the meeting,
the Association really encourages you to do so. Dr. Woody will be leading the
Symposium next year and we need Arkansas to really make a stand and support
our own Dr. Woody. For more information on the symposium, visit there website
at www.swvs.org
Hashim M. Ghori D.V.M., Ph.D., is Assistant State Veterinarian and has been serving as the Director of the Poultry Disease Program since Oct. 1979 for the Arkansas Livestock & Poultry Commission. On July 17, 2007, at the 50th anniversary meeting of the American Association of Avian pathologist (AAAP) in Washington, D.C., he received the Lasher – Bottorff award for his significant contributions as an avian pathologist to the poultry health programs in North America. He is a diplomate in the American College of Poultry Veterinarians. Dr. Ghori is a member of the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association and the AVMA.