New state law gives CE credit to N.Y. veterinarians who do free shelter work

Senate Bill A680/S4449, recently passed by the New York State Senate and signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, will give veterinarians state CE credit for providing free spay-neuter services at shelters. 

“Veterinarians can gain substantial knowledge through their involvement in spay/neuter work,” says Brian Shapiro, New York director for the Humane Society of the United States. “Plus, this new change could help alleviate pet overpopulation and reduce the number of animals euthanized at New York shelters.” 

The bill-sponsored by State Senator Phil Boyle (R) and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal (D)-“authorizes the provision of free spaying and neutering services in lieu of self-instructional course work for continuing education requirements for veterinarians.”

The credit goes toward the state's Education Department requirement for a specified number of CE requirements for licensure.