AVMA exhibit policy stirs activist groups

SCHAUMBURG, ILL. — Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR) members want space on the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) convention floor, and they're taking strides to get it.

At presstime, letters between the profession's only animal rights group and AVMA argued a "contentious exhibitors" policy that bars AVAR from booth space at the membership organization's annual convention July 16 in Minneapolis.

Exhibitor applications are now reviewed based on criteria that includes: value to the association's overall membership; relationship to the veterinary profession; previous participation at the AVMA convention; available space; and messages espousing philosophies or practices contrary to AVMA policies and position statements. "Animal rights groups have increasingly targeted the AVMA and its position statements and guidelines," the policy states.

While AVAR admits to criticizing AVMA's animal welfare views, the group represents 2,900 veterinarians, of which 78 percent reportedly are AVMA members. Ending a decade's worth of representation at AVMA shows has "essentially chilled our freedom of expression," AVAR spokeswoman Dr. Holly Cheever says.

"We are it for the animal welfare branch of this profession," she says. "We're disputing the AVMA's decision, but no one likes fighting with the AVMA."

History of disillusionment

Cheever should know. Last year, AVMA agreed to reimburse AVAR $1,788 in expenses after threatened with legal action for revoking the group's booth space shortly before the July 2004 annual meeting.

AVMA officials rescinded AVAR's exhibition privileges during the Philadelphia meeting in response to the publication of a "New York Times" advertisement paid, in part, by the activist group, which chastised the national membership organization for its animal welfare policies.

Although reportedly miffed about a recent AVAR newsletter article's negative assessment of AVMA welfare policies, the group has agreed to meet with activist leaders to come to a consensus.

"They've asked us to meet with them during the convention," Cheever says. "I'm a fan of bridge building. I think they are just going to ask us to stop saying mean things about them."

Applauding honesty

In conflicting fashion, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) lauds AVMA's new policy.

Also denied booth space, PETA says the straightforward move might lessen the traditional last-minute excuses citing space constraints used to bar activist groups from the AVMA convention floor.

PETA officials have written a letter to Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Editor Dr. Janis Audin, commending the association's procedures.

"Any process would be better than the current method — rudeness," the letter states.