Regulatory

Montpelier, Vt. -- Vermont lawmakers have approved a bill that aims to protect animals and children from ingesting antifreeze.

Olympia, Wash. -- "Registered veterinary medication clerks" will be able to administer controlled substances without the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, according to a new law passed in Washington.

A law passed last fall that made it a felony for a non-veterinarian to practice equine dentistry has essentially been overturned.

The House of Representatives is considering a bill to ban transporting horses in double-deck trailers.

Fever ticks continue to spread in Texas despite a quarantine, officials report.

Washington -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a final guidance document April 30 about the substances prohibited for use in animal feed, relating to its new rule to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

Tallahassee - A bill that would have required sterilization of all cats and dogs by the age of 4 months of age was substantially changed by the Florida House Agriculture and natural Resources Policy Committee.

For nearly 20 years, equine dentistry has been considered a veterinary act in Oklahoma.

Memphis, Tenn. - An expired temporary license is costing a Tennessee DVM $30,000 in fines form the state's veterinary board.

Duluth, Ga. -- In response to an advisory recently issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about spot-on flea and tick products, Merial says it is working cooperatively to address any of the agency's concerns.

A new law that could ban ownership of nonnative animals is being debated in Washington.

Washington -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will evaluate whether further restrictions are warranted due to a "sharp increase" in incidents from spot-on flea and tick products.

Washington -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is ordering the manufacturers of 67 pesticide chemicals to test whether their chemicals disrupt the endocrine systems in animals and humans.

Columbus, Ohio -- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is targeting Ohio's farming practices in an effort to change housing requirements for farm animals.

Sacramento -- A tax deduction for the cost of adopting a pet from a rescue organization is being considered by California lawmakers, but already has been trimmed from its original version.

Columbus, Ohio -- Ohio is the latest state to take on so-called "puppy mills." Legislation was introduced last week that would establish stringent guidelines for those operating breeding kennels in the state.

Macon, Ga. -- Georgia's veterinary state board voted to trim its late-renewal period for veterinary licenses from one year to three months.

Churchill Downs is expected to become the nation's first major racetrack to win accreditation by the NTRA.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to delay implementation of its so-called BSE rule.

Pets die every day, but when it happens on the veterinarian's table should the doctor be forced to pay?

New legislation would prohibit euthanization of healthy wild horses and burros on federal lands.

Complaints against online veterinary pharmacies fueled the formation of a new certification program.

Phoenix -- The Humane Society of the United States filed a class-action lawsuit against Petland Inc. and the Hunte Corp. for allegedly selling "unhealthy puppy-mill puppies to unsuspecting customers."

Springfield, Ill. - An Illinois Senate bill that would have labeled cosmetic ear cropping and tail docking as "animal torture" was cut to the point of removing all substantial policy change.

Washington -- A mandatory animal identification tracking system is the most effective way to minimize an animal disease outbreak.

Denver - A Colorado bill that would have required microchips or identification tags for cats in large cities died in the state house.

Oakland, Ore. - The first veterinary case linked to the nationwide peanut-products recall was reported.

National Report - The federal government lacks a comprehensive understanding of the sufficiency of its veterinarian work force, according to the Government Accounting Office.

Washington -- More money, and lots of it, is the only way to avoid a dramatic shortage of public-health veterinarians that could put the entire nation at risk, a Senate committee was told.

Veterinarians and owners soon may be the only ones allowed to handle exotic animals in Missouri.