Pigs, pit bulls, donkeys and elephants — the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) today reminded presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama that America’s veterinarians play vital roles in preserving and protecting both human and animal health — lipstick or not.
Speaking from their headquarters just outside of Chicago, the AVMA’s chief executive challenged the candidates to integrate into their platforms positions in support of veterinary medicine, food safety and animal health and well-being. "Animal and human health are nonpartisan issues, and we call on Senators McCain and Obama to honor America’s citizens by supporting measures to protect them from zoonotic diseases, food safety outbreaks and animal-related bioterrorism," said Dr. W. Ron DeHaven, Chief Executive Officer of the AVMA.
America’s veterinarians, Dr. DeHaven said, are helping keep healthy and safe a national ecosystem abounding with animals. "Whether the eagles that soar through our airways or the barracudas that cruise our coastal borders, America’s veterinarians are the first-line of protectors of the health of our nation’s animals," DeHaven said. "Unfortunately, our nation is heading toward a crisis because there are only 85,000 veterinarians to keep all of these animals and the humans in contact with them healthy," he added.
The AVMA urged the candidates to pledge leadership on these key issues affecting the United States:
- America faces a dangerous shortage of veterinarians — especially in critical rural areas, where food animals are typically raised and inspected. The new President will need to champion measures for growing the number of veterinarians and recruiting more to serve in rural areas.
- Crucial food safety programs and resources, such as the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD), are frequently underfunded or at risk of closure, and the new President must take strong stances to preserve them.
- The AVMA calls on the new President to ensure that veterinarians are appointed to lead the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Food Safety Inspection Service.
Source: AVMA, September 15, 2008