Regulatory

Harrisburg, Pa. -- New legislation in Pennsylvania aims to boost dog and cat adoption rates by offering a tax credit to residents.

Olympia, Wash. -- Washington state lawmakers launched a new comprehensive prescription reporting program for most controlled substances last month.

Columbus, Ohio - As more veterinarians buys products over the Internet from out-of-state suppliers, Ohio says it will crack down to make sure they are collecting often-forgotten use taxes.

Sacramento, Calif. - Microchipping pets is on the verge of becoming mandatory in California, if Gov. Jerry Brown signs legislation presented to him Aug. 30.

Columbus, Ohio - Only licensed veterinarians may cut or amputate a horse's tail-and only if medically necessary, according to a new Ohio law.

Austin, Texas - Dog and cat breeders in Taxas have new licensing requirements.

Springfield, Ill. - Animals tken into custody by animal-control officers or shelters in Illinois must now be scanned for microchips or checked for other identification within 24 hours, according to a new law that takes effect Jan. 12, 2012.

Ocala, Fla. - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lost its first attempt at shutting down a veterinary compounding operation Sept. 12, when a U.S. District Court denied its motion for a permanent injunction against Franck's Pharmacy of Ocala, Fla.

Oklahoma City, Okla. -- New regulations on commercial pet breeding require treatment of sick animals and annual veterinary wellness exams. The action follows new rules approved the Oklahoma?s Board of Commercial Pet Breeders on July 15.

Ocala, Fla. -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lost its first attempt at shutting down a veterinary compounding operation Sept. 12, when a U.S. District Court denied its motion for a permanent injunction against Franck?s Pharmacy of Ocala, Fla.

Lansing, Mich. -- Pet owners in Michigan may soon have the opportunity to "return" sick or diseased animals to their place of purchase if a proposed new law passes.

Annapolis, Md. -- Veterinary candidates who did not earn a degree from a veterinary program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE), but who have passed the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE), will now be considered for state licensure in Maryland.

Rockville, Md. -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning veterinarians about a possible risk of fractures associated with a device used to deliver the feline leukemia vaccine through the skin of cats.

Albany, N. Y. - Shelters with animals whose redemption periods have expired now have new options.

Lawmakers are forcing groups who bring animals into Connecticut for adoption to have them examined by a veterinarian within 48 hours of importation.

Schaumburg, Ill. - Ther American Veterinary Medical Association developed a new data collection tool to help in the fight against non-DVMs performing veterinary prcedures

National Report - Ballot initatives, backed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to change egg-production standards, were dropped in Oregon and Washington after HSUS and the United Egg Producers announced a deal to work together on new federal legislation that would apply to all egg-laying hens in the United States.

Hartford, Conn. - Animal cruelty and child abuse have now been linked in new ways.

Jefferson City, Mo. - A new bill in Missouri will give the state pharmacy board authority over retail veterinary legend drugs, but also adds a licensed veterinarian to the board's advisory committee.

Ponder, Texas - Dr. Phillip Henderson of Ponder Veterinary Hospital spent more than an hour-and-a-half on hold with Texas' Department of Public Safety. He was waiting to hear about the status of his controlled-substance certificate that he tried to renew months before.

Portland, Ore. -- Overwhelming protest by the veterinary community quashed a proposed amendment to Oregon regulations that would have allowed some animals to be vaccinated without an examination by a veterinarian.

Providence, R. I. -- Rhode Island animal owners may now obtain rabies vaccination directly from the Department of Environmental Management--which has sole authority over animal vaccines--rather than through a veterinarian.

Rockville, Md. -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is adding a new component to adverse drug experience reports, now requiring the frequency of reactions to be added.

St. Louis - Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon allocated $1.1 million in the 2012 state budget to crack down on substandard commercial dog breeders.

Atlanta, Ga. - Georgia lawmakers have reworked the state's previous student loan repayment program and established a board to purchase the loans of veterinary students that will practice food-animal medicine in Georgia.

Annapolis, Md. - Trimming and maintaining horse hooves by a farrier or other layperson is no longer included within the cope of Maryland's definition of veterinary medicine,

Increasing drug cartel violence in Mexico forced U.S. veterinary inspectors, who previously crossed the border to perform inspections, to move stateside, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Washington - The Food Animal Avoidance Databank (FARAD) took a tiny funding cut this year.

Annapolis, Md. - Anyone with more than 15 unspayed female dogs over the age of 6 months will be required to obtain a Maryland kennel license beginning Oct. 1.

Austin - The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners will no longer accept licensure applications through any reciprocal licensing agreements or by endorsement.