Legislation & regulation

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  • May 15, 2011

    AAHA endorses Feline Friendly Handling Guidelines

    The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has endorsed a new set of guidelines for handling cats in a feline-friendly manner.
  • May 8, 2011

    Mo. adopts new laws to clarify Prop B

    Missouri’s controversial anti-puppy mill law, "Proposition B," has been altered by two state senate bills signed into law last week.
  • May 8, 2011

    Ore. domestic violence bill would include pets

    The Oregon senate has passed a bill that will allow judges to include pets in domestic violence restraining orders.
  • April 10, 2011

    AAHA endorses WSAVA guidelines

    The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Board of Directors voted to endorse of the Global Nutritional Guidelines of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) at AAHA’s board meeting in Toronto.
  • April 10, 2011

    Fate of Utah feral animal bills shows lawmakers’ leanings

    by Jared Jacang Maher Feral cats have been the topic of much political debate in Utah this year as a result of two bills that presented very different methods for how to deal with feral animals. HB 210, which would have allowed for the shooting and killing of feral animals, failed to pass through the Utah Senate before the end of the state’s legislative session last month. Meanwhile, a separate bill making it easier for animal welfare organizations to sterilize and return feral cats to the places where they were found passed both houses. SB 57 is awaiting signature by Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert. Though these bills were unrelated, the fact that HB 210 died while SB57 prospered shows greater support for policies that take a more humane approach to controlling feral animal populations, says Best Friends Animal Society spokesman John Polis. Best Friends, a non-profit, sponsors around 40 programs throughout southern Utah that trap, neuter and then release free-roaming cats, which otherwise might be euthanized. The bill allows for ear-tipped cats to be returned immediately to their colonies without being held in a shelter for what is currently a mandatory three-day holding period.
  • March 6, 2011

    Compounding comments dominate FDA notice

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the deadline for comments on how to increase the number of approved veterinary drugs on the market. Meanwhile, pleas for the FDA to not shut down compounding pharmacies continue to flood in, even though the agency says it is not planning any such action. The FDA published a notice in the Federal Register in December, saying it wants to find ways in which it can make more drugs legally available to veterinarians and pet owners. The notice cites the large number of non-FDA-approved animal drugs that are available, and asks for strategies on how to address the issue. The agency has already received close to 200 comments on the notice, and they have extended the comment period from Feb. 18 to April 19, in response to several calls for an extension. Interestingly, many of the scores of comments from pharmacies, veterinarians and other industry personnel are appeals to the FDA to not crack down on compounding pharmacies.
  • February 13, 2011

    Nebraska, Minnesota consider puppy mill bills

    Minnesota and Nebraska are both considering puppy mill bills for the latest legislative session.
  • February 13, 2011

    Texas county relaxes rabies requirements

    A Texas county that has been requiring rabies vaccinations annually now allows veterinarians to decide how often the shots are needed, the Temple Daily Telegram reports.
  • January 23, 2011

    FDA receives some criticism on new animal drug approval procedures

    Comments have started to come in on a request from the  FDA for ways to address unapproved animal drugs.
  • January 23, 2011

    Legislative update - January 2011

    Three cities consider or pass vicious dogs rules.