14 Jun Support SB 785 – An Animal Welfare Board Act
PVMA needs you, our valued members, more than ever. Please take the time to share your support for Senate Bill 785 by contacting Pennsylvania State legislators today....
Latest News
14 Jun Yaw Reintroduces Bill Creating Animal Welfare Board
HARRISBURG –Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23) recently announced the reintroduction of legislation to create an Animal Welfare Board in Pennsylvania. Senate Bill 785 would create an 18-member Animal Welfare Board to review existing laws and regulations and make recommendations to the General Assembly for action. The board would meet at least once each legislative session or at closer intervals to fulfill the duties outlined in the legislation. “It would be sensible to establish a group of experts, from various disciplines across the board, to take a look at the laws we have and make...
28 Apr Statement on Xylazine
On behalf of the of The Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association, we want to thank Governor Shapiro’s Office for their quick action to hear our concerns and their willingness to work with us regarding the scheduling of xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance. Xylazine is an FDA-approved prescription sedative with pain-relieving and muscle relaxing properties for use in animals. It is one of the most widely used veterinary drugs across many species, including cats, dogs, horses, cattle, deer, elk, rats, mice, wildlife, and zoo animals....
24 Apr H.R. 1839/S. 993 (Combating Illicit Xylazine Act)
Illicit xylazine has been found to be an adulterant in illicit fentanyl and heroin and can contribute to overdose deaths and the development of chronic sores in drug users. Xylazine is an important veterinary sedative used to facilitate the safe handling of many species and is particularly important in livestock. Sedation of fractious animals is essential to keep people and the animals on which they work safe....
23 Feb Boarding Dogs at a Veterinary Practice
Posted at 18:55h
in Human Resources & Practice Management, Practice Guidelines, Veterinary Professionals, Veterinary Professionals
February 16, 2023 – This correspondence comes to inform you of the requirements of the Dog Law, specifically as it pertains to boarding kennel licensing. The statutory requirements of the Dog Law Act necessitate that all veterinarians who board a dog, regardless of whether the boarder is a client or not, must have a kennel license....
26 Jan Updating Pennsylvania’s Dog Law: Proposed Increases to Dog and Kennel License Fees and Changes to Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement Operations
Posted at 18:15h
in Advocacy, Legislative Updates, Pet Owners, Pet Owners, Veterinary Professionals, Veterinary Professionals
January 25, 2023 - The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement (BDLE) has been operating in a deficit for several years and annually requires a transfer of funds to maintain operations. This has prevented the BDLE from hiring a new warden when a position is vacated, thus resulting in the Bureau being understaffed. It is for this reason that in 2022 the Department of Agriculture reached out again asking for increases to both dog and kennel license fees. Representative Eddie Day Pashinski plans to introduce legislation to return the BDLE to...
26 Jan Proposed Law for Fair Pet Insurance in Pennsylvania: Mike Schlossberg’s Effort to Protect Pet Owners
Posted at 16:52h
in Advocacy, Legislative Updates, Pet Owners, Pet Owners, Preventive Care, Safety, Veterinary Professionals, Veterinary Professionals
January 20, 2023 – For many Pennsylvanians, pets are chosen family who deserve all the love, affection and care their human family receive. As a proud parent — to two humans and two dogs — state Rep. Mike Schlossberg takes that seriously....
05 Jul PVMA Partners with Certified Safety Training to Provide Custom OSHA Safety Services
Failing an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspection can result in tens of thousands of dollars in penalties. To help Members avoid costly penalties by fully complying with mandatory health and safety regulations, the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) is pleased to partner with, Certified Safety Training (CST)...
16 Jun Position Statement on Veterinary Nursing
In 2017, NAVTA launched the Veterinary Nurse Initiative in part to address the ongoing credentialed veterinary technician shortage present in Pennsylvania and the rest of the country. NAVTA’s leadership proposes that standardizing the title to “veterinary nurse” enhances public awareness about the role of the CVT/RVT/LVT, as well as providing clarity about the role within the profession....
27 Jan “Scope of Practice” Alert – Authority of the PA Board of Veterinary Medicine Upheld
As part of our mission to ensure the vitality of the veterinary profession and enhance animal health and welfare, PVMA continues to take appropriate action against those who practice veterinary medicine without a license. Our profession recently saw a significant win in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, released the final adjudication of Maria McElwee v. Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, State Board of Veterinary Medicine....