Non-profits encroach on New York veterinary practice, survey says

Albany, N.Y. - 4/29/08 - New York veterinarians are concerned about non-profit animal shelters practicing medicine, according to early results from a New York State Veterinary Medical Society (NYSVMS) survey.

Non-profit shelters traditionally hire private veterinarians to perform in-house care for homeless animals, including sterilization. But many humane societies and other non-profit agencies now provide veterinary services to privately owned animals, NYSVMS officials report. Veterinarians complain that non-profits operate like private practices, forcing them to compete with donation- and tax-subsidized operations, NYSVMS officials say. The group considers this a violation of state regulations mandating that veterinary care only be provided by a licensed DVM or at a veterinarian-owned business.

The survey, ongoing at press time, is designed to help NYSVMS officials gauge how many non-profit organizations advertise and provide veterinary care to the public and privately owned animals. The group asks veterinarians to relay any problems they have witnessed with animals that received veterinary care or underwent surgery at a non-profit organization.

NYSVMS leaders remind veterinarians who work for non-profits that they are responsible for making medical decisions related to patient care, a veterinarian-client-patient relationship must exist and records need to be maintained for up to five years.

New York veterinarians can e-mail info@nysvms.org to take part in the survey.